Chalkboard Project kicks off interactive phase of campaign
Contact:
Chalkboard Project
(503) 542-4325
info@chalkboardproject.org
New-style web site connects Oregonians to education research and provides online forum for discussing tough choices and tradeoffs
PORTLAND, Ore. – The Chalkboard Project – a collaborative effort led by five independent foundations with no axe to grind – today announced that its newly expanded web site has gone live.
The upgraded site (www.chalkboardproject.org) incorporates a wealth of new tools and education information that can be easily accessed by all visitors and contains dedicated sections tailored to the needs of citizens, journalists, and stakeholders.
“The entire site has a new look and feel designed to help Oregonians find what they need as quickly as possible and to introduce user-friendly information along the way,” said Sue Hildick, Chalkboard’s president. “We listened to what Oregonians wanted to see on the site and are very pleased with the results. The revamped site will be invaluable for anyone wanting to find out more about Chalkboard Project and a great resource for everyone who’s interested in learning more about the tough choices and trade-offs required to make our public schools among the nation’s best while still living within our means.”
The new site includes: interactive online surveys where Oregonians can weigh in on education issues, a new online knowledge base of focus group summaries and statewide polls, bilingual access for Spanish-speaking Oregonians, answers to frequently asked questions, and links to other Oregon groups working to improve the state’s public schools.
“The expanded web site sets the stage for a state-wide public participation effort beginning in January when Oregonians will have the chance to speak out on quality, accountability and funding for Oregon’s K-12 public schools,” said Hildick. Further expansion to the site is expected to occur in December as Chalkboard moves into the final planning stages of an extensive civic engagement process.
Design and architecture of the new-style site was led by Curiosity Group – a Portland-based creative shop that specializes in consumer web marketing – who donated significant time and resources to the effort.
About Chalkboard Project
Launched in early 2004, Chalkboard Project exists to inspire Oregonians to do what it takes to make the state’s K-12 public schools among the nation’s best, while strengthening our school system’s financial accountability to taxpayers. Chalkboard aims to help create a more informed and engaged public who understand and address the tough choices and trade-offs required to build strong schools, and to enable statewide programs that can be applied at the local level to improve school quality, accountability, and funding. To date, Chalkboard has connected with about 100,000 Oregonians, asking for their best ideas to strengthen the state’s K-12 public schools. It also has partnered with other education organizations to create the Open Book$ Web site www.openbooksproject.org to track school district spending.
Chalkboard – an initiative of Foundations For A Better Oregon – is sponsored by a growing list of independent foundations. The founding five foundations are: The Collins Foundation, The Ford Family Foundation, Jeld-Wen Foundation, Meyer Memorial Trust, and The Oregon Community Foundation. For more information about Chalkboard and to learn how to get involved, call (877) YOUR-K12 or visit www.chalkboardproject.org.
