Study on Education Organizing and Academic Improvement

About this grant

Austin Interfaith Sponsoring Committee 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. Currently, it is working with 18 public schools that are part of the Alliance Schools Network, all with a high percentage of low-income students and English-language learners.Multiyear funding will enable Austin Interfaith to continue implementing the Teacher Pipeline Initiative to provide an opportunity for teacher assistants to become certified teachers; develop curriculum and instruction; provide leadership development opportunities for principals, parents, congregational leaders and pastors; and participate in the eight-site study to explore the contribution of education organizing to education reform efforts in low-performing districts and schools.Recent accomplishments included sponsoring an education conference to discuss the impact of No Child Left Behind; forming a partnership with Education Austin, the Austin teacher’s union, to recruit teachers to the Austin Interfaith leadership training; and undertaking a campaign to remove public bus stops from the front of school buildings.