Ohio communities want to be involved with their public schools, and research shows that their involvement could mean the difference between a mediocre school, and a school that shines.

Over 90% of Ohioans think that community members should be able to advise their public schools on important decisions, according to our Foundation's Ohio's Education Matters 2004 Poll. Furthermore, research indicates that community engagement in school improvement efforts can improve teaching and learning in the classrooms, and deepen parent and community involvement, transforming the lives of both students and community members.

To this end, our Foundation facilitates "authentic" community engagement within all of our initiatives. We support community ownership, and participation in official decisions, rather than buy-in for decisions already made by an elite few. Culled from our own experience, and supported by research, the Foundation has developed 10 Principles of Authentic Community Engagement that truly empower communities to change their schools.