Community members and schools need to work together to make education in their community all that it can be. Check out profiles of three communities tackling various issues related to education through dialogue and action.

1. PROFILES OF COMMUNITIES ADDRESSING EDUCATION ISSUES
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MARYLAND: Although
the Montgomery County School System has ample
funding and excellent teachers, there is a huge gap
in test scores between white students and students
of color. In 2002, they decided to try a new
approach. They began a concerted effort to
implement structured conversations in schools
about how race and ethnicity affect student
achievement.
The dialogues have led to improved understanding
and awareness, individual behavior changes, new and stronger relationships, and to institutional
changes:
• Teachers are developing awareness of how unintentional stereotyping affects their
teaching, and are changing their behaviors.
• Schools are offering new support systems in multiple languages to help parents from
every background get involved.
• Some schools developed new discipline plans to treat students of color fairly.
PORTSMOUTH, NEW HAMPSHIRE: Residents of the small
coastal city of Portsmouth decided to implement a dialogue
program to address concerns around bullying and student
behavior in the middle school.
Following the dialogues, schools noted an increase in
awareness, and a decline in bullying. The program also did
something equally important: it connected students, educators,
and the community.
These first “Portsmouth Listens” talks sparked enthusiasm
among community members. Dialogues have continued in the
Portsmouth education system for over a decade, tackling issues such as whether to relocate the
middle school, how to handle unbalanced elementary school enrollment, and school budgeting.

2. The ARKANSAS School Boards Association (ASBA)
has been running “study circles” allowing local
residents to weigh in on educational decisions in their
community since 1998. When an increase in sales tax
to fund education put a strain on local residents and
businesses, the ASBA organized dialogues so residents
could offer recommendations to improve the tax
system.
They have since expanded the program to include other
topics around education such as student achievement, family involvement, early childhood care
and education, and diversity. More than 6,000 people have participated from 90 sites across the
state. Some accomplishments of the program include helping smaller schools consolidate,
defining goals of parental involvement, and developing after school programs.
About Everyday Democracy
A national leader in the field of civic participation and community change, Everyday Democracy
helps people of different backgrounds and views talk and work together to create communities
that work for everyone.
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