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K-12 School Improvement
Why Municipal Leaders Make Education a City Priority
Local elected officials in both large and small cities across the nation are partnering with school districts and other community members to improve local public schools and student academic achievement. High-quality education helps create quality cities by developing a skilled workforce, improving economic vitality, attracting and retaining families and residents, and encouraging strong and engaged citizenry.
According to surveys conducted by NLC in 2004, 93 percent of city officials say that the quality of education is very important to the well-being of cities. In addition, 95 percent of city officials say that they are very concerned or somewhat concerned about the quality of education in their communities.
What Municipal Leaders Can Do to Improve Public Schools
With or without authority over local school districts, mayors and city councilmembers can play key roles to support school improvement initiatives. Strong partnerships between the city, school district, local businesses, civic organizations, parents, and other key community leaders can lead to positive outcomes for children and youth. Municipal leaders can:
- Convene disparate groups to discuss key priorities and mobilize the community to take action;
- Focus public attention on student achievement, teaching, and supports for learning;
- Obtain data to tell stories the public can understand to build consensus and support;
- Promote adequate school funding to invest in high-quality teachers, instructional resources, and facilities;
- Share information and resources between the city and local school districts;
- Remove obstacles to achievement by broadening access for all children; and
- Support learning outside of schools by creating a citywide afterschool system that ensures stability and long-term growth.
Goals of the YEF Institute's Education Programs
The goal of the YEF Institute's education programs is to improve the quality of elementary and secondary (K–12) education by:
- Deepening and enhancing involvement of municipal leaders in broader K-12 school improvements and afterschool options;
- Broadening awareness of diverse roles municipal leaders can play to stimulate and support student achievement;
- Building civic capacity of municipal leaders to support and sustain innovations in high schools and afterschool; and
- Sharing effective strategies and best practices about broader school improvements and afterschool opportunities to municipal leaders.
K-12 School Improvement Staff Contacts
Audrey Hutchinson, Program Director: 202-626-3053 or hutchinson@nlc.org
Marjorie Cohen, Senior Program Associate: 202-626-3052 or cohen@nlc.org
Andrew Moore, Senior Fellow: 215-848-6910 or moore@nlc.org
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