Community Engagement Huntsville-Madison County!
The Schools Foundation 2010
The Schools Foundation 2010
Huntsville-Madison County
The Schools Foundation 2010
Community Engagement Huntsville-Madison County
What does this community expect from our schools?
We’ve never asked.
The Schools Foundation 2010
Community Engagement Huntsville-Madison County
•Are we doing things right?
•Are we doing the right things?
•What have we missed?
The Schools Foundation 2010
Why Is This Important?
The health of our local economy and quality of life in our community is directly dependent on the quality of our public schools.
Our students must graduate prepared to compete in today’s global economy and to meet local workforce needs.
The Schools Foundation 2010
How Do We Know That Community Engagement
Works?COMMUNITY NEED PROCESS OUTCOMEChattanooga, TN Only 18% of 3rd graders
reading at grade levelTeachers had to reapply for
their jobs; teacher & administrator retraining; began afterschool literacy program; bonuses for high
performing teachers; volunteers partnered w/
parents
By 2006 74% of students test proficient or advanced
Long Beach, CA Has the country’s 3rd highest youth poverty rate
Built community ; involved parents.
200 parents & citizens involved in the program;
trains parents in literacy skills, fosters community project
Cleveland Heights, OH Gap in graduation rate; largest high school on state’s
academic watch list
Created a community transformation initiative to develop small communities
within the schools;
Graduate rate increased; school moved to state’s “effective Schools” list
How does community engagement work?A 12-17 month plan
•Identify the lead organization: The Schools
Foundation
•Identify the chairs: Scott McLain, Stephanie
Malone
•Funding Goal: April 15, 2010
•Build the Leadership Team
•Contract with experienced community
engagement experts
•Establish the Community Action Team and identify
facilitators
•Recruit volunteers
•Conduct Needs Assessment•
The Schools Foundation 2010
How does this work?
•Identify community, business,
organizational, and faith-based partners
•Train leadership team and facilitators
•Consult with school leaders; begin school
volunteer & business partnership program•Conduct 150-350 community conversations over a 4-6 month period
The Schools Foundation 2010
How does this work?
•Analyze the data; consult with school leaders
•Develop goals, responsibilities, identify
resources , and benchmarks for the
community contract
•Publish the Community Contract
•Develop the implementation plan for each
district
•Work with school districts to update strategic
plans
•Report to the community; conduct
community forums
•Repeat
The Schools Foundation 2010
What does it take to implement a community-wide listening campaign?
Volunteers & Funding for:
•Experienced Leadership of the initiative; assessment of community &
organization capacity; leadership and facilitator training; data analysis and
organization; leadership planning for utilizing the data in collaboration with each
school district; translation into a joint strategic plan and Community contract; public
education forums
•A Community Contract- to guide the strategic planning implementation,
identify resources and respop0nsibilities, set benchmarks for public accountability;
includes printing, postage, administrative support
•4 School Volunteer & Business partner Coordinators- working directly with each school system, school principals, and business leaders;
coordinate services across the community and with other organizations
The Schools Foundation 2010
The Schools Foundation 2010
“Why isn’t education a bigger political
issue?”
The Schools Foundation 2010
Community Engagement Huntsville-Madison County
Our communities are changing and the clock is ticking…..
The Schools Foundation 2010
Community Engagement Huntsville-Madison County
We know that great schools are possible when a community is
unified in support of high education standards.
What does this mean?
When we really focus on something, we make progress!
The Schools Foundation 2010
The Schools Foundation 2010
Community Engagement Huntsville-
Madison CountyA community partnership in support of public education
The Schools Foundation 2010
Community Engagement Huntsville-Madison CountyA community partnership in support of public education
www.theschoolsfoundation.org
Scott McLain President, The Schools Foundation
256-533-3414
Debbie Beaupre
Executive Director, The Schools Foundation
256-503-3213