A History of Engaging the Public on Education Reform

1996-97: The Citywide Campaign
Three major conferences and citywide outreach to develop Draft Reform Proposal
Events involved representatives of hundreds of education advocacy, community-based, business, religious, labor and civic groups, as well as parents, students, and school board members

1997-98: The Statewide Campaign
Ten local and six regional forums conducted in cooperation with the League of Women Voters, the New York State School Boards Association and other statewide collaborators
New York City forums for teachers, students, parents and administrators
Statewide process resulted in Statewide Fair Funding Principles and a revised definition of a Sound
Basic Education

1998-99: Expanded Public Engagement
A new series of statewide regional forums co-sponsored by education, business, human services, civic and religious groups
Expanded dialogues on standards and accountability
Comprehensive survey of public school resources in New York City and other school districts

1999-2000: Public Engagement through CFE Trial
A curriculum project using CFE trial to teach students about the democratic process and efforts to define and fund a Sound Basic Education
Intense outreach to bring students, parents, educators and concerned citizens to the CFE trial
Statewide forums and panels to build working partnerships to mobilize for reform on specific issues

2000-01: Dialogue on Remedy Implementation
A series of ten statewide community forums to address implementation of the CFE decision
Organized “civic jury” forum for in-depth verdicts to help gauge public reaction to specific remedial
ideas regarding accountability
Initiated a series of eleven regional, community roundtable discussions to discuss accountability
and the local impact of education funding
A conference for high school students on school accountability and civic engagement

2001-02: Dialogue on School Reform
Explored issues of accountability and student preparation for civic engagement through an expanded statewide public engagement effort
School-based discussions in thirteen locations across the state focusing on school-level accountability and to consider the specific educational improvements their schools could generate if adequate state funding was provided
Expanded youth engagement through series of conferences on school accountability and civic engagement

2002-03: Continuing the Dialogue
A series of six forums on civic participation with students, educators, teachers, and community members to discuss the critical role of schools in preparing students to be effective citizens, capable voters and jurors, and productive participants in the civic life of their communities.
A series of thirteen regional forums to inform costing out study and gather input on the programs and practices that work to help students meet the standards
Meetings on district-level accountability with parents, educators, administrators, community members and students

Prepared by Melissa Mangino, January 18, 2005