Support for Partner Organizations
Printer-friendly versionAISR has supported a wide range of partners in developing their work and publications by helping with research design, data analysis, coordination, and publication development and production. Our executive director and staff serve as advisors and board members for a number of networks and organizations.
Policy briefs for A+NYC Policy Hub
In November 2012, with support from AISR, A+NYC — a coalition of parents, students, advocates, and community-based organizations – launched aplusnyc.org/policy-hub, a collection of research-based policy fact sheets that addresses critical issues in public education, ranging from college readiness to school turnaround to family and community engagement. These easily accessible and readable fact sheets form a comprehensive policy hub that provides education research evidence and best practices that are relevant not only to New York City mayoral candidates, but also to elected officials, media, policy-makers, and community members nationwide. Policy briefs prepared by AISR include:
Educate Providence: Action for Change
The Providence (RI) mayor’s Children and Youth Cabinet (CYC), a cross-sector collaboration of community, city, and district leaders and agencies, aims to create a cradle-to-career network that fosters better educational, social, economic, behavioral, and health outcomes for the city’s young people. In 2011, CYC outlined five overarching goals for the city’s schools. This 2012 report identifies 11 indicators to track progress toward these goals, provides baseline data, and outlines priority strategies. AISR has provided planning, research, and communications support to the CYC since its convening in 2010 by former mayor David Cicilline, continuing through its expansion by current mayor Angel Taveras. CYC and its director, Rebecca Boxx, hired with support from several national foundations, are now affiliated with and housed at AISR. (2012)
Democratic School Turnarounds: Pursuing Equity and Learning from Evidence
AISR researcher Michelle Renee co-authored with Tina Trujillo of the University of California, Berkeley a report published by the National Education Policy Center, University of Colorado Boulder that urges government agencies and policy-makers to look at educational research as they guide school turnarounds. Evidence shows that top-down, punitive efforts that are currently in vogue are ineffective and counterproductive. A collaborative, community-driven approach combined with significant, sustained financial investment and a focus on teaching and learning has been proven to be the better path to school improvement. (2012)
The Way Forward: From Sanctions to Supports
AISR prepared a report that presents findings of the New York City Working Group on School Transformation. The Working Group was initiated by the NYC Coalition for Educational Justice (CEJ) and coordinated by AISR, with AISR’s executive director Warren Simmons serving as co-chair. The group grew out of a 2011 conference, convened by CEJ, the Urban Youth Collaborative, and the Alliance for Quality Education, with the goal of presenting successful alternatives to New York City’s school closings strategy. (2012)
Resource Sheets for Discipline Policies, Successful Schools, and Racial Justice
AISR prepared three resource sheets on school discipline to accompany the policy brief Discipline Policies, Successful Schools, and Racial Justice, written by Daniel Losen of the Civil Rights Project and published by the National Education Policy Center at the University of Colorado as part of the Dignity in Schools Campaign National Week of Action. (2011)
Our Communities Left Behind: An Analysis of the Administration’s School Turnaround Policies
AISR played a leadership role, including data analysis and writing, in the preparation of this 2010 report by Communities for Excellent Public Schools (CEPS). CEPS is supported by Communities for Public Education Reform (CPER ), a collaboration of over fifty foundations working to support the field of education organizing. The report provides an extensive analysis and critique of federal policy on turning around low-performing schools, as outlined in “Blueprint for Reform: The Reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.”
Community Voices for Equity and Excellence
AISR staff supported Minnesota Neighborhoods Organizing for Change with research design and data analysis to develop and implement a large-scale parent survey and prepare a report on the findings. The survey was a an effort to identify the priorities and concerns of community members about public education in the Twin Cities. (2011)
School Leadership for Authentic Family and Community Partnerships
AISR researchers Sara McAlister and Michelle Renée were authors of a chapter in the book School Leadership for Authentic Family and Community Partnerships: Research Perspectives for Transforming Practice, edited by Susan Auerbach (Routledge, 2011). The chapter, co-authored with Heinrich Mintrop and Seenae Chong, is entitled “Target, Strategic Partner, Critical Friend? Relationships between School Leaders and Community Organizing Groups.”