In several larger districts, teachers, parents, community organizers, faith leaders and others have responded to reform agendas developed largely without their input with community-based visions that emphasize a broad range of student developmental needs and draw on the communities’ various assets to meet them.
- In New York City, the A+ NYC Coalition produced Whole Child, Whole School, Whole City: An Education Roadmap for the Next Mayor, key precepts of which guide Mayor Bill de Blasio’s equitable education improvement efforts.
- In Philadelphia, community organizers and teacher leaders came together as the Philadelphia Coalition Advocating for Public Schools (PCAPS) to produce the Philadelphia Community Education Plan: Excellent Schools for All Children.
- In Newark, long-time Central High School teacher and City Council member Ras Baraka led to effort to produce XXXX in response to former Chancellor Cami Anderson’s top-down One Newark plan to reform the city’s schools. This work was instrumental in his election as the next mayor of Newark.