Community Dialogue

For citizens to define what they want for their public schools and for all students, they must come together to articulate their goals and areas of shared understanding.

Community dialogue educates communities on how the education system works and what constitutes a quality education. Dialogue also presents an opportunity to use meaningful data to build understanding about the effectiveness of the school system. With common understanding, citizens can develop a collective commitment. It’s not enough just to talk: Public dialogue must produce action-oriented outcomes.

Local education funds often serve as conveners and facilitators for this work; they create opportunities for dialogue by building effective partnerships among diverse groups. Forums for dialogue include strategic planning processes and education roundtables.