In response, many states have crafted ground-breaking reform plans to improve data systems that measure student growth, adopt rigorous student standards and assessments, recruit and reward effective teachers and leaders, and turn around low performing schools. In fact, several states—including Illinois—have recently passed bold laws to begin implementing these reforms.

A key contributor to implementation of successful school reforms is often a strong, independent advocacy organization. Such groups can provide policy makers access to research, policy ideas, and opportunities to learn more about other states’ education policy successes. This can help balance the negative impact of partisan politics, which clouds the debate around meaningful, statewide education reform.

In 2007, the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, Center for American Progress, Education Sector, and the Center on Reinventing Public Education created the Policy Innovation in Education Network (PIE Net) to provide a national, non-partisan forum for policy makers and civic leaders looking for innovative strategies to advance equity and achievement in education. In the past few years, PIE Net has built a network of more than a dozen statewide education advocacy organizations including Advance Illinois. The group has hosted national conferences and other activities aimed at joining together national policy leaders and state advocacy organizations.

A Joyce grant will help to increase the capacity of current PIE Net organizations as well as the possible development of a new advocacy group in Indiana. Along with hosting collaborative meetings among its advocacy partners, PIE Net also plans to develop a network leadership training curriculum to help translate leading policy ideas into implementation strategies. These activities would not only allow organizations across the network to share successful ideas, but partners also hope to encourage a sense of urgency for advocacy work in other states throughout the Midwest.

“We have seen a positive correlation between a strong advocacy presence and bold education reform plans in states like Illinois,” says Suzanne Tacheny Kubach, executive director of PIE Net. “This grant will allow our other organizations to not only improve their work but also support newer advocacy initiatives throughout the Great Lakes region.”

For more information on Joyce Foundation’s Education program, please visit here.