How Schools Work and How to Work with Schools (2014) demystifies public education for policymakers, government officials, community members, business leaders, and others interested in partnering with schools to improve the health, safety, and well-being of all students and ensure they are successful in their academic pursuits. How Schools Work includes:

• Explanation of public education governance at the federal, state, local, and school levels and how national organizations influence education policymaking.
• Ways to meaningfully and positively engage with the education sector, including examples of successful school-community partnerships and best practices.
• Guiding principles for working with schools and practical steps for more successful collaboration with them.
• Answers to the most frequently asked questions about public education. For example: What is Title I and how does it support low-income students? And, how are public schools funded?
• Reliable data sources and resources for additional information on crossover issues in education, from school crime and safety, to school nutrition and health policies and practices.
• A glossary of common education terms, acronyms, and important federal education programs. 

The preschool and early school years are crucial for children and parents. When children experience success in responsive, high quality programs, they learn essential skills and knowledge, and their parents learn to be confident partners with teachers and administrators. However, when children lack the benefit of successful early education, they often fall behind their peers in achievement and suffer low self esteem – and parents may feel they lack the ability to work with professionals in support of their child’s education.

This 1988 report from NASBE’s National Early Childhood Education Task Force provides a policy agenda to promote the development of all young children ages 4-8. Aimed at public school leaders and state policymakers, these recommendations spell out ways for the public schools to teach young children, work with their parents, and collaborate with other programs that serve preschoolers and their families.

Because deeper learning is so often misconstrued, it is essential for boards to identify and communicate their visions effectively. Once the state has its own vision—including plans and terminology—in place, NASBE’s communications toolkit can be used as a resource that can help move that vision forward.