Welcome to Changing the Narrative on Public Education, a communications toolkit designed to help advocates talk more effectively about the current needs and future possibilities of public education. In collaboration with the Partnership for the Future of Learning and the Shared Story Project, FrameWorks offers evidence-based strategies for communicating an affirmative vision for the future of education that centers race, equity, and meaningful learning.
The Quickstart guide below offers a brief overview of framing recommendations that will assist advocates in disrupting the current narratives around public education and its future. Or if you’re new to framing, check out the Core Story of Education research for a deeper dive on what it takes to change the longstanding dominant narrative about public education.
Framing strategies for talking about racial equity, public education, and community schools.
Social change communications require advocates to engage with the public differently and at a deeper level than consumer focused communications. The task is not only to raise awareness or bring attention to an issue, but to ultimately help increase the public’s understanding of how that issue presently functions; the systemic and social conditions that created it; and what solutions are available to resolve it; and, based on that increased understanding, to move people to action. To increase understanding, we have to know the current thinking. Social science research helps us uncover that. Knowing the cultural models that exist around public education and equity issues can be used to advocates’ strategic advantage. Take a look at the resource below to learn how audiences may already be thinking about public education and how that may affect your work.
Knowing the cultural models that exist around public education and equity issues can be used to advocates’ strategic advantage. Take a look at this resource to learn how audiences may already be...
Any space to communicate—whether in person, online, through the media or the mail—is an opportunity to frame. Take a look at the samples below for guided steps on incorporating framing into a variety of communications . Each example models the “narrative resilience” framing recommendations.
Since 2014, the FrameWorks Institute has worked with partners across the education advocacy field, among others, to reframe public education. These partnerships, along with deep relationships with local and national advocacy organizations, such as the Learning Policy Institute, Journey for Justice Alliance, Public Education Matters Georgia, and the Alliance to Reclaim Our Schools, among others, have resulted in other resources that may be useful toward field alignment.
