In 2012, Public Education Network (PEN) closed its doors after 21 years. PEN was a network of local education funds (LEFs) -- community based organizations in high poverty school districts across the United States -- that continue to work with their school districts and communities to improve public education for the nation's most disadvantaged children.

At the national level, PEN raised the importance of public engagement as an essential component of education reform. It brought the voice of LEFs and the communities they represent into the national education debate. Finally, PEN gave voice to the essential nature of the connection between quality public education and a healthy and thriving democracy.

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Connections: A Journal of Public Education Advocacy - Fall 2004, Vol. 11, No. 1

September 23, 2004

ContentsPresident's Message: Wendy D. Puriefoy says we need a narrative that informs and inspires a new national movement to support high-quality public education for every child.Linda Darling-Hammond on our Confused Priorities: The Charles E. Ducommun Professor of Teaching and Teacher Education at Stanford University questions why our nation does not give education a priority.Bob Edgar on the Faith Community's Role in Education: The head of the National Council of Churches explains why the faith community needs to take a leadership role in education reform.Conversations: David Gergen, editor-at-large for US News and World Report and director of the Center for Public Leadership at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, leads a wide-ranging discussion on the need for a national education movement.Making It Happen: Patricia Albjerg Graham thinks it's about time our system of public education catches up to our expectations.ViewpointSarita Brown exposes Hispanic myths and the growing influence of this vital segment of the populationDavid Dodson wants all children to tap into the optimism and success that is America, and to have the tools and opportunities to do soRoger Wilkins talks about the power of education and the insidious impact of racism on the lives of black AmericansEnd Notes: Lee Kravitz reminds us that words have power and that strong messages move people to action.

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