A r c h i v e d  I n f o r m a t i o n

The Process

No two communities or schools are building their partnership exactly the same way; nor will any two comprehensive plans be identical.

The strengths and needs of your school or community are the raw materials for developing your plan. No one knows those strengths and needs like you, the people who work and live in your community. That's one reason no one can design a plan for you.

For ideas about how to organize your community around the National Education Goals, you may want to see the Community Action Toolkit created by the National Education Goals Panel. The Toolkit offers practical tips about:

One section, entitled "Guide to Getting Out Your Message," features tips -- and samples -- for creating media advisories, press releases, news conferences, op-eds, public service announcements, and other communications. Other sections include "The Guide To Goals and Standards" and the "Community Organizing Guide."

The Toolkit discusses a number of issues surrounding one of the most important questions we can ask: What should all our children know and be able to do?

To find out how you can purchase the Toolkit, call the National Education Goals Panel at (202) 632-0952.

There's an another reason your community or school must design its own improvement plan. The process will help your school or community learn some things about itself. You will discover challenges, opportunities, and strengths. You will begin to "define what we want for our children and how we're going to get it." And that will deepen the school's or community's commitment.

Communication will be crucial from day one.Image

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