Mannakee Circle Group

Today at a National Town Hall event at Trinity Washington University moderated by CNN's Soledad O'Brien and featuring Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, Corporation for National and Community Service head Patrick Corvington, and White House Domestic Policy Adviser Melody Barnes, United Way Worldwide released Voices For The Common Good: America Speaks Out On Education.

Mannakee Circle Group president Brad Rourke conducted focus group research, reviewed notes from the field, and did the principal writing for this report. (Available here.)

The national report is the result of extensive work by United Way listening to community members talk about their aspirations and concerns when it comes to their communities and education. It is based on more than 150 community conversations with thousands of participants, held by local United Ways in 17 cities -- along with six focus groups in Billings, MT; Chicago, IL; Detroit, MI; Los Angeles, CA; New York City, NY; and Washington, DC.

Key findings in the report include:

• When you improve schools, you improve communities -- and vice versa
• People feel disconnected from schools
• Instilling values is just as important to people as teaching academics
• We've reached a turning point in education
• People want to work together but aren't sure what to do

For more about the report, visit United Way.