Public Education Network
Since 1991, the Public Education Network (PEN) has led the charge for reform in public schools, providing local education funds with information and resources to help them reach their goals. The mission of PEN is to create systems of public education that result in high achievement for every child. PEN works to educate the nation about the relationship between school quality and the quality of community and public life. Equal opportunity, access to quality public schools, and an informed citizenry are all critical components of a democratic society. PEN’s goals is to ensure that the availability of high-quality public education is every child’s right and not a privilege.
PEN is made up of local education fund members from all across the United States. The Lancaster Foundation for Educational Enrichment joined PEN in the year 2000, and is part of the collective focus on school reform and restructuring, community involvement, and systemic initiatives.
The values of the Public Education Network are as follows:
• Public education is fundamental to a democratic, civil, and prosperous society
• Public schools are the critical institutions for breaking the cycle of poverty and redressing social inequities
• To be effective, education reform must be systemic
• Parents and care-givers must be involved in any attempt to improve public schools
• Public engagement, community support, and adequate resources are essential to the success of public education
• Independent, community-based organizations must play a central role in building and sustaining broad support for high-quality public education and for achieving significant reform in the nation’s public schools
PEN provides training, technical assistance, and information to increase the effectiveness of local education funds as agents of positive change. For more information, go to www.publiceducation.org.