Program and Policy Changes Occur

The Collaborative for Education Organizing's funder partners strive to leverage their connections to create new and improved access to the decision-makers that impact the education of the District's young people.  To date, CEO has had impacts:

On Individuals:

CEO works with its nonprofit partners to establish relationships with the people with the power to solve the issues affecting public education.  CEO's nonprofit groups have worked to ensure that students, parents, and community members' voices are heard directly and are a respected part of the decision-making process around education reform.  CEO groups count amongst themselves more than 600 authentic community members:

• Students - CEO student members have reported better relationships with their teachers, increased access to their principals, and better equipped to self-advocate ad partake in actions and activities that have put them in direct contact with DC school system representatives, including the Chancellor.
• Parents - CEO parent members have reported they are better equipped to work with their child's teacher to address their needs as well as with their principals to address the state of the school.
• Community members - schools should be everyone's priority, not just parents and students - groups like DC VOICE have worked to engage community members more broadly in efforts to enlist them in actions to guage the strength of schools and their leadership.

The story of the Collaborative for Education Organizing is framed around policy change and community power; however its impact falls squarely upon young people.  Lalaram Guyadin was always a shy young man, not used to speaking in public, but though his participation with Many Languages One Voice and the SMART program, he has spoken of the confidence he's gained to voice his opinion and advocate for himself - to be a leader for other students.  Mateus, another student leader in the SMART program was awarded a scholarship to university for the leadership work he had displayed.

Sharnell Brown, a former student of Anacostia Senior High School, dreamed of studying neuroscience and working alongside her idol, Dr. Ben Carson.  She recognized the challenges ahead of her but dreamed of a better education for her younger sister.  Sharnell joined STEP UP DC to achieve her dream for her sister.  STEP UP DC offered Sharnell the chance to be with a group of like-minded students who care about their education and want to see positive changes to the school system.  "We have to care and take the initiative, because no one else is going to care for us.  We have to say, "Hey, this is my education.  I deserve a bettereducation because I am the person sitting in the classroom.'  I deserve the best education because I am a good student," proclaims Sharnell.  She graduated last year and is currently at Kentucky State University, following her dream.

By giving young people access to the systems and people who make decisions for them, we are ensuring these students are more engaged to shift the conversation to include them.

On Institutions:

CEO groups are establish relationships with the structures with the power to solve the issues affecting public education.  Groups like Many Languages Once Voice (MLOV) have worked to encourgae their limited-English proficient student members to be more vocal in demanding language access and equity within their schools.  MLOV has leveraged more productive relationships for these students - and their parents - with school principals, District of Columbia Public Schools Chancellor, DC City Council and more District represenatatives, to ensure that their needs are met and vices heard.  STEP UP DC has collaborated with other groups across the city to revise the District's suspension and truancy policy.  Youth Education Alliance was able to forge connections within the DC City Council to win increased levels of support for guidance counselors.

On the Community:

CEO students and parents are working to establish venues for the community to influence the programs and policies that impact the academic and social developmnt of public school students and their families.  For example, during the recent DC election cycle, CEO groups organized a candidates forum where more than 200 community members, including District of Columbia Public Schools students, had the opportunity to voice their questions and concerns on the state of education reform to City Council candidates.

In 2010, CEO groups worked collectively to push the DC City Council to include the viewpoint and perspective of students and parents in the District of Columbia Public Schools budgeting process.  A first for the city, the CEO budget hearing allowed dozens of community stakeholders to directly interact with the Counil on key financial decisions that impact the education reform effort.  For a video of the event, click HERE.

Strengthening community's voice in education is essential to ensuring not only that schools are stronger but that the community members feel welcomed and respected by decision-makers.  Jonathan Stith, Youth Education Alliance's executive director, notes, "Young people do care about their education and what is hapenning in their schools.  I honestly believe that a healthy and vibrant school system produces a healthy and vibrant citizenry and eveyone has a role to play in making that happen, from students to funders, from me to you.  We all have a hand to play in that and will gain the benefits of a sound and just education system that educates all and gives all young people the opportunity to achieve."