The Excellent Schools Detroit initiative is a partnership of Detroit's education, government, community, parent and philanthropic leaders that aims to develop a citywide plan that will ensure all Detroit children attend excellent schools.

The partnership's participants hope to take advantage of the community's new sense of urgency and hope; results-drive and accountable school and city leadership; and additional funding from federal, state and philanthropic levels. This includes the $5 billion in federal Race to the Top and innovation funds, which will be distributed to states and school districts that are willing to raise learning standards, improve teaching effectiveness, close chronically failing schools and offer excellent alternatives, and use data to monitor student progress and hold schools accountable for results.

Participants include: ARISE Detroit, the City of Detroit, Detroit Edison Public School Academy, Detroit Parent Network, Detroit Public Schools, the Kellogg Foundation, the Kresge Foundation, the McGregor Fund, Michigan Future, Inc., New Detroit, New Urban Learning and University Prep, The Skillman Foundation, Think Detroit PAL, and United Way for Southeastern Michigan. Three nationally regarded firms are assisting the planning process. Led by the Parthenon Group, the team includes the Community Building Institute and KSA-Plus Communications.

What you can do

• Read results from six initial community meetings and online surveys completed in late 2009 to learn what ideas received overwhelming support from the community.
• Visit www.excellentschoolsdetroit.org and find out how you can participate in upcoming events .