The following resources might be helpful to school districts and the community partners who work with them.

How do We Know What Education Reforms Work? at 6:30-8:30 p.m. March 9. How should communities respond to new educational initiatives like the PARCC exam? How can good reforms be distinguished from bad ones? Join Frederick Hess (AEI), Charles Payne (University of Chicago), Charles Tocci (Loyola University), and Mariela Estrada (Brighton Park Neighborhood Council) for a conversation on how communities can put public education reforms to the test.  The event will include an opportunity for participants to talk in small groups about their experiences with education reform in Chicago. A closing assembly moderated by Laura Washington of the Chicago Sun-Times will provide an opportunity for everyone to share their thoughts.

20th Annual Spring Into Action Conference on March 28-29, 2017. This two-day conference brings together statewide early care and education providers, educators, parents and advocates. Attendees will have an opportunity to participate in timely policy-oriented workshops, networking, and visits to the state capitol.

Organizing for Action — An important aspect of community systems work is to organize the local community around advocacy issues that matter to them. There are four key elements to consider when organizing local communities: leadership, relationship building, governance and structure. In this blog, learn more about the basic concepts and additional resources to organize your community towards action.