Resources
National Organizing Networks
ACORN
The Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) is the nation's largest community organization of low- and moderate-income families, working together for social justice and stronger communities. Its website has specific information about the better schools national campaign, as well as general information about ACORN.
DART
The Direct Action and Research Training (DART) Center is committed to building powerful, diverse, congregation-based, and democratically run organizations capable of winning justice on issues facing the community. The website chronicles the organizations achievements in, among other things, public education improvement. It also has a section on Miami PACT.
Gamaliel Foundation
The Gamaliel Foundation assists local community leaders to create, maintain and expand independent, grassroots, and powerful faith-based community organizations so that ordinary people can impact the political, social, economic, and environmental decisions that affect their lives. Gamaliel provides organizations with leadership training programs, consultation, research and analysis on social justice issues.
IAF
The leaders and organizers of the Industrial Areas Foundation build organizations whose primary purpose is power - the ability to act - and whose chief product is social change.
PICO
PICO brings people of faith together to strengthen families and revitalize communities. With more than one thousand religious congregations and one million families working in 150 cities and towns, PICO is one of the largest grassroots community efforts in the United States. A section of the PICO website focuses on public schools and includes news updates and links to articles about PICO member organizations’ projects.
Research Centers and Institutes
Ed Trust
The Education Trust works for the high academic achievement of all students at all levels, pre-kindergarten through college, and forever closing the achievement gaps that separate low-income students and students of color from other youth. Its basic tenet is that all children will learn at high levels when they are taught to high levels.
Ed Trust West
EdTrust West, the West Coast presence of The Education Trust, works throughout California with superintendents, principals, students, teachers, parents, business and community leaders who are trying to transform their schools and colleges into institutions that serve all students. EdTrust West works to ensure that all students have the opportunity to enroll in and successfully complete California’s college readiness curriculum. Its goal is that high school graduates are empowered and prepared to choose among all postsecondary options.
Research for Action
Research for Action (RFA) employs multidisciplinary, rigorous research, diverse teams, and feedback that challenge stakeholders and researchers to confront assumptions. It shares its research with educators, parent and community leaders, students, and policy makers to build a shared critique of educational inequality and school reform that is socially just.
UCLA IDEA
The Institute for Democracy, Education, and Access (IDEA) is a network of UCLA scholars, students, professionals, advocates, community activists, and urban youth. Its mission is to make high quality public schooling and successful college participation routine occurrence in low income neighborhoods of color. IDEA uses research and advocacy as tools to empower individuals, build relationships, and create knowledge for civic participation and social change.