Becoming a Grassroots Movement

Four years ago this coming November, a statewide initiative led by Ohio’s school superintendents to give their citizens a stronger voice in shaping education policy was born.  Today, the Ohio Public School Advocacy Network includes 140 school districts.  Early next year, local residents from 20 Ohio school districts will take an important step in turning this superintendent-led initiative into a grassroots movement led by Ohio’s citizens.  In January, they will begin building community-based discussion groups in their districts to learn about and deliberate on education policy issues and concerns impacting their local public schools.  This initial pilot effort, in turn, will serve as the foundation for creating a statewide network of community-based discussion groups.