Dc Voice

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All children and youth have a right to a high quality public education based on meaningful and rigorous educational standards.It is expected that all children can reach those standards, and will be provided with the necessary supports to do so.

A key component in educational reform is an engaged and informed public:without which there is little hope for positive outcomes.

The schools belong to the community.This should be reflected by a respectful working partnership between each school and its community on issues such as govern3nce,curriculum,professional development,research and staffing.

We can accomplish more by working together in collaboration than we can by working separately,and we seek to further collavoration at all levels.

We must go beyond superficial and isolated events to analyze and address the human and institutional complexities and interdependent factors involved in public education.

Parents,teachers,students and community members must have the support needed and the right to be legitimately involved in decisions regarding student education and achievement.

All aspects of school reform should keep equity at the center.This entails examining each issue through the lens of race, class and gender- and being willing to institute equity measures to create a level playing field for all involved.

Grassroots organizing and advocacy training are critical for empowered public engagement.

National and community-based research and data on all aspects of local schools and the school system should be accessible to all members of the community and should inform all school reform efforts.

Key to improved students achivement is rigorous,sustained, in-depth and collabrative professional development.

Successful schools feature in-depth active learning emphasis on authentic performance,attention to development,appreciation for diversity,oppoetunities for collabrotive learning a collective perspective across the school,structures for caring,support for democratic learing, and connections to family and community.