by Michael Karpman

Municipal efforts to engage communities in improving public schools is the topic of a free, hour-long Web seminar/audioconference that will take place on Thursday, Sept. 21, at 4 p.m. EDT.

The seminar, ?Building Public Will: Promoting Citizen Engagement to Improve Your City?s Schools,? which is sponsored by NLC?s Institute for Youth, Education, and Families and the National City Network, will provide local officials with practical ideas and strategies from national experts on education and senior mayoral staff.

Speakers and Discussion
The speakers of the seminar will include:

? Michael Grady, deputy director, Annenberg Institute for School Reform at Brown University;

? Marc Hill, director, Mayor?s Office of Children and Youth, Nashville, Tenn.; and

? Maria Guajardo Lucero, executive director, Mayor?s Office for Education and Children, Denver.

A key focal point of the discussion will involve a new series of case studies published by the Annenberg Institute. The case studies identify promising approaches by mayors and other municipal leaders to effectively mobilize a range of constituencies to support local schools.

Denver and Nashville are two of the five cities featured in the report.

In Denver, Mayor John Hickenlooper has worked with a coalition of community organizations to address academic achievement among the city?s Hispanic students. By convening a Summit on Latino Achievement, the mayor has helped create a sense of urgency in addressing Hispanic students? graduation rates.

Nashville Mayor Bill Purcell has taken the lead in developing a long-term strategy to engage the public in raising the quality of local schools. Through various efforts such as school walks, a First Day Festival and a Corporate Honor Roll, the city is restoring public confidence in the school system. Partnerships with parents, community organizations and businesses have led to increased investment and substantial achievement gains in 2005.

Other cities highlighted in the report include Akron, Ohio; Long Beach, Calif.; and New York.

What City Leaders Can Do
Municipal officials are well-positioned to build the strong civic capacity that is necessary for school improvement. The seminar will focus on several of these roles, which will include:

? Helping forge a common vision for educational equity and excellence;

? Forming collaborative bodies to support and sustain the vision;

? Expanding services and supports for student learning and healthy development; and

? Mobilizing public and political will for quality schools.

How the Seminar Works
This seminar is free, but it is available only to a limited number of participants. Therefore, advance registration is required by close of business Tuesday, Sept. 19. A separate registration is needed for each phone line that will be used in listening to the call.

The seminar has both an online component and an audio component. Participants will be able to view speaker presentations online while also listening to the presentation via computer speakers or by phone. At least one day prior to the call, each registrant will receive an e-mail or fax providing both the website address needed to access the seminar as well as a toll-free, dial-in phone number for those unable to hear the seminar?s audio component through their computer speakers.

How to Register
To register, e-mail or fax the participants name, title, organization, mailing address (including street, city, state and Zip code), telephone number, fax number and e-mail address. This information should be e-mailed to iyef@nlc.org or sent by fax to (202) 626-3043. No telephone registrations can be accepted.

Details: To ask questions about the seminar, leave a detailed message on the information line at (202) 626-3014.

For more information on NLC?s programs to help municipal officials improve public schools, contact Lucinda Dugger at dugger@nlc.org or (202) 626-3052.