YOUR FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOOD: The No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act put the spotlight on schools, holding them responsible for raising test scores and narrowing the gap between different demographic groups. But a report from Education Sector looks at how accountability should also be extended to the larger community: civic organizations, non-profits, after-school programs and others all can play just as important a role in shaping student outcomes. The report, Striving for Student Success: A Model of Shared Accountability, looks at the Strive Partnership of Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky, a partnership for 300 local organizations and philanthropies that reportedly has organized services and facilities to support students outside the classroom. Its tagline: "Every child, every step of the way, from cradle to career." Sounds pretty sweet.
