All across America, people are concerned about how our children are doing in school - and we are no different in Schenectady.  We all want the best for our children.

This Study Circle program is designed to help us work together so that our children will succeed in school.

To reach this goal, all of us must be involved:  parents, students and adults from our entire community.  If we listen to each other and work together, we will have a better chance of finding solutions to help young people do their best in school.

Trained facilitators help participants talk, build relationships, develop a better understanding of the challenges and plan action steps to help all students succeed.

How the Study Circle Program Works
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• Many circles meet at the same time
• Each group is made up of 12 - 15 people from different backgrounds.
• Groups meet for four 2-hour sessions, led by trained facilitators who reflect the community's diversity.
• Each group will move forward with the help of trained facilitators who do not take sides but help manage discussions.
• Each group sets its own ground rules.  This helps people respect each other and gets results.
• Each group considers the issue from many points of view.  People are helped to see where they agree and have common ground.
• The process moves a community to action when the Study Circles conclude.

The study circles will build trust and connections between a variety of people.  This will develop through discussion and understanding of why students do or do not succeed.

Throughout the process, members develop respect for each other as they listen and become open to new ideas.  Study Circle members come together as they find common ground and develop solutions as well as a plan of action.

Steps in the Dialogue
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A Study Circle starts with personal stories and then becomes a discussion while looking at a problem from the many points of view.  The group talks about how they think things should be.  They make plans for action and change.

Session 1:  Meet Each Other

• Get to know and understand one another
• Talk about what a good education means to us
• Receive information about our students and how they are doing

Session 2:  Explore the Problem

• Discuss how our students are doing
• Talk about why we believe some students do not succeed in school

Session 3:  Set Goals

• Create a "picture" of a community where all our students  can do their best.

Session 4:  Plan for Action

• Talk about how to make our visions from Session 3 happen.  Some of these ideas will be actions that people can do alone.  Some will be done in groups.  Others will be done by school and community members.

The Action Forum
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Soon after the end of the study circle sessions, a large meeting will be held to collect action ideas from all the study circles.  Common themes for action will be identified and participants will have the opportunity to sign up to move these ideas forward.

Community wide Program
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The community wide program will open with a kick-off meeting on February 2, 2009.

The study circles will be held for four weeks starting February 23 and ending March 23.

The Action Form will be held on April 6. 

Our goal is to involve 200-250 participants.  Please join us!