The Nellie Mae Education Foundation is working with the FrameWorks Institute to find out what Americans think about public education.  Initial findings from the Frameworks research reveal that the American public struggles to understand the current public education system or think constructively about its reform.

To begin the conversation on reframing public discourse around education and education reform, the Foundation recently gathered education and community leaders from across New England to attend a “Reframing Education for Public Understanding and Support” workshop.  It was hosted by the Connecticut Council for Philanthropy at the Graustein Memorial Fund in Hamden, CT. 

FrameWorks staff members Jane Feinberg and Moira O’Neil presented excerpts of the research, focusing on how Americans think and communicate about education.   Different methods and strategies were demonstrated and discussed at the session that education experts can use to help reframe educational messaging for social change.  Participants were excited to learn different messaging approaches and models to influence public discourse and think about how to “move the needle” in education reform efforts. 

The Foundation plans to organize similar workshops in all of the New England states.  The next FrameWorks workshop will be held in Maine in January.  More details about this event and future events will be available in early 2010. 

If you would like more information on the Maine workshop, the FrameWorks research, or if you would like to co-host an event with FrameWorks and the Nellie Mae Education Foundation, please contact José Massó at 781-348-4239 or at jmasso@nmefdn.org.