“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”
– African Proverb
Lasting change in education happens when communities unite around a shared vision for student success. A co-designed vision serves as an anchor, aligning the work of local coalition leaders to drive greater impact and long-term sustainability.
But a vision and plan is only as strong as the culture of learning and accountability that follows. In April, we piloted school visits to assess progress and model the culture we believe is essential for student success—one where family leaders, educators, board members, and district leaders come together to celebrate strengths and identify areas for growth in pursuit of the community’s shared vision.
High-performing districts regularly conduct school visits to assess their progress, but these visits rarely involve families. The Bay Ed Fund is helping our district partners develop a more inclusive process to foster school improvement. Like medical rounds in a hospital that bring multidisciplinary teams together, our school assessment experience leverages the strengths of families, community leaders, and educators to build a picture of what excellence looks like at schools, as well as their respective roles in achieving that vision. Watch the school canvass experience in action!