Study on Education Organizing and Academic Improvement

About this grant

The Eastern Pennsylvania Organizing Project is one of eight sites participating in a study to examine the effects of community organizing on education reform in low-performing districts and schools. The project works in five elementary, one middle and four high schools, selecting schools with changing leadership, the least experienced teachers and the most challenging neighborhoods.Multiyear funding will enable the project to implement a small schools policy; distribute more qualified teachers in distressed schools; promote greater funding equity at the local and state levels; provide community-based professional development for teachers and principals; develop dropout prevention and alternative educational opportunities for youth; and participate in an eight-site study to explore the contribution of education organizing to education reform efforts in low-performing districts and schools.During the past two years, accomplishments included strengthening teaching and learning within project schools; developing new partnerships with community institutions; and changing feeder patterns from the elementary to middle to high schools.