“We know what's possible from our children when reform isn't just a top-down mandate, but the work of local teachers and principals, school boards and communities.”
-- President Obama, State of the Union speech, January 25, 2011
In last night’s State of the Union address, President Obama linked America’s recovery from the recent recession to our nation’s ability to create schools that give every child a chance to succeed. The president also noted that the most effective and sustainable reforms occur when teachers, school and system leaders collaborate with families and communities. And while the president noted that the responsibility for education begins in the home, Race to the Top and other federal programs must provide resources and examples of best practice to expand the number of partnerships among schools, community organizations, businesses, municipal agencies and other partners that are critical to the success of efforts like the Harlem’s Children Zone, the Providence After School Alliance, the Coalition for Educational Justice in New York, and the Manchester Bidwell Corporationin Pittsburgh.
To fulfill its promise, Race to the Top must include incentives and supports that encourage state and local education leaders to engage families and communities as partners in reform rather than objects of top-down mandates. While it's possible for individuals to succeed despite a lack of support from communities and families, we cannot make the exception the rule for the vast majority of our students. Rebuilding schools requires strong partnerships between schools and communities alike.