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Press Release: Leaders From The Nation’s Top Community And Education Organizations Endorse The Community Agenda For America’s Public Schools. Beyond the Debate: School and Community Partnership: The solution to improving student outcomes and strengthening families and communities . September 24, 2008 For more information contact: Washington, DC – In a show of unity, the League of United Latin American Citizens and a group of concerned leaders from the nation’s major education and community organizations endorsed an action plan to improve student outcomes and prepare today’s youth for the 21st Century. The Community Agenda for America’s Public Schools focuses on developing vital school and community partnerships to ensure all children enter school healthy, are engaged and motivated to succeed in school, and are prepared for postsecondary education and productive lives as contributing citizens. LULAC and one hundred twenty four other organizations are supporting The Community Agenda which seeks to restore schools as cornerstones of community life by embracing partnerships in areas such as health, extended learning, counseling, mentoring, the arts, community service, internships, and workforce development. Such partnerships also can create real-world learning opportunities that prepare students to be active participants in our democracy. The Community Agenda goes beyond the current education reform debate to affirm that the solution to educating our children lies in an integrated approach that provides for standards and accountability, qualified teachers, adequate school resources and strong support from community partners. The Community Agenda calls for an aligned effort of federal, state, and local leaders working with schools, families and communities, whereby every entity is strategic and focused on results. LULAC has long been committed to ensuring that all students have the opportunity to attend quality schools, working in collaboration with like-minded organizations is a natural, and necessary, extension of this goal. LULAC’s 600 plus councils will serve as a catalyst for launching this important initiative and working with communities to engage in the education of our students. Because schools are one of the central institutions in the lives of children and youth, The Community Agenda promotes partnerships that address complex social problems, such as poverty, violence, substance abuse and family instability that negatively impact student performance. Schools are the place where community leaders, institutions and citizens can bring together their resources to support student learning and engage students as active learners and contributors to their community. “The Community Agenda is a workable set of solutions that are already being implemented in communities across the country,” said Director of the Coalition for Community Schools, Marty Blank. “Communities matter, whether urban, suburban or rural, and every one in the community has a role to play in helping young people to thrive. Every student will benefit from a united effort to provide our young people and their families with more connections, more opportunities, and more learning time.” For more information visit www.thecommunityagenda.org
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