Public Deliberation: A Tool For Connecting School Reform and Diversity

The following appendix is a chart describing three dialogue formats: forum/study circle, focus group, and Citizens Jury. The chart provides background, planning and preparation information, and identifies technical support organizations. This chart is not meant to be an exhaustive list, but rather to provide a sampling of dialogue formats that are frequently used and organizations that have extensive experience providing training and technical support.

How to Use the Chart

The first column identifies the type of dialogue format and is followed by headings that will help give an overview of important descriptors, such as the time involved in conducting a session and typical steps needed for preparation and follow-up activities. Also listed is contact information for dialogue organizations.

The chart is designed to help determine what type of format is most suitable for local needs. For example, a community that wants to provide equity and access for all students by developing quality performance standards and multiple authentic measures of performance and connecting these to curriculum might begin by getting a sense of what are the views and concerns of the separate groups (parents, teachers, students, members of the business community ). Allowing members of each group to consider the important issues from their perspective, before bringing the groups together in a larger community dialogue, may give each group the feeling that it was heard and help to provide a better understanding of how others see things. In this situation, the focus group format would be a good option.

A second example is provided by a school board that asked the community to help form extended community-based learning experiences across all academic areas, linking groups of students with like-minded facilitators from the larger community. Educators used both study circles and a community forum to identify community strength and expertise and to develop action plans that integrated student learning with community resources.

Each of the three different dialogue formats is a conversation that requires space, time, speaking, listening, reflection, investigation, and a willingness to share and be actively engaged in dialogue. The key to finding the best fit between a dialogue format and a community is to thoughtfully consider community members, school personnel, and dialogue organization staff.

Data for this chart was collected from a combination of sources: World Wide Web sites, handbooks, marketing pamphlets and articles, and conversations with staff members.

Three Dialogue Formats

	Forum/Study Circle	Focus Group	Citizens Jury
PURPOSE	The purpose of both a forum and a study circle is to engage participants in making, or at least working toward, a decision about how they will act on a problem or policy they feel is important to their community or country.	The purpose of a focus group is to understand how diverse groups in a community think about complex issues. Different types of groups, made up of representative members, provide distinct points of view. Focus group information can also help design a larger town meeting.	The purpose of the jury is to bring together a group of citizens who are representative of the community to examine a complex issue and pronounce a judgment. Time and resources help the jury arrive at a reasonable, well-developed, and thoughtful solution.
STRUCTURE	A forum is a gathering of a large group of people coming together to discuss the same issue. A study circle is a gathering of a small group of people coming together to discuss the same issue.	Focus groups are a series of one-time structured discussions centered around a specific set of questions.	A jury is a group of citizens who come together to learn about an issue, question experts, and make recommendations.
GROUP SIZE	A forum can include 30-200 people. A study circle can include 5 to 20 people.	A focus group usually includes 10-15 people.	A jury consists of 12 to 24 members.
TIME	Forums meet once in a two-hour discussion. Study circles meet usually weekly in two-hour discussions for a series of three to four sessions.	A focus group typically lasts about two hours.	The jury process lasts four to five days.
MODERATOR	Forum and study circle moderators focus the discussion by asking questions and helping the group consider a variety of views.	Focus group moderators lead the discussion by asking each group the same questions in the same sequence.	Jury moderators lead the hearings.
TRAINING	Forum and study circle moderators benefit from training; however, it is not required. Typically, training ranges from 6 hours to 2-1/2 days.	Focus group moderators benefit from training; however, it is not required. Typically, training ranges from 4 hours to 2 days.	Jury moderators are associated with the Jefferson Center. However, possibilities for training are available.
MATERIALS	Typically, participant materials can include manuals, resource materials, and discussion videos. Facilitator materials can include training manuals and resource materials.	No written materials are required.	No written materials are required.
FACILITIES	Sessions can be conducted at public meeting spaces, such as schools, universities, libraries, community centers, and places of worship.	Sessions can be conducted at public meeting spaces, such as schools, colleges and universities, libraries, community centers, and places of worship.	Sessions can be conducted at public meeting spaces, such as schools, colleges and universities, libraries, community centers, and places of worship.
PREPARATION	The typical steps for a study circle/forum include: building a coalition; identifying the issue; designating facilitator(s); reviewing or adapting materials; training moderators; recruiting participants; locating meeting site; handling logistics.	The typical preparation steps include: determine discussion questions; determine number and type of participants; deciding on separate or mixed focus groups (parents, teachers, students, community members, etc.); deciding on one or a series of focus groups; recruiting participants; designating moderator(s); locating meeting site; handling logistics.	Typical steps for a jury include: identifying the issue; recruiting expert witnesses on the issue; establishing an advisory committee; conducting a survey to select jurors; recruiting the jury; locating meeting site; handling the logistics.
FOLLOW-UP	The typical conclusion for a study circle or forum includes individual, group, and next-step reflections.	The typical concluding steps are: report back to community (through a series of town meetings) and the commissioning body acting on recommendations.	The typical concluding steps are: informing the community of its findings and recommendations; commissioning body following up on recommendations.
ORGANIZATIONS	National Issues Forums 100 Commons Rd. Dayton, OH 45459-2777 Phone: 800/4337834 http://www.nifi.org Public Agenda Foundation 6 E. 39th St. New York, NY 10016 Contact: Will Friedman willfr@ix.netcom.com Phone: 212/686-6610 Fax: 212/889-3461 http://www.public agenda.org/ Study Circles Resource Center P.O. Box 203 697 Promfret St. Promfret, CT 06258 Contact: Matt Leighninger Phone: 860/928-2616 Fax: 860/928-3713 scrc@neca.com	Public Agenda Foundation 6 E. 39th St. New York, NY 10016 Contact: Will Friedman willfr@ix.netcom.com Phone: 212/686-6610 Fax: 212/889-3461 http://www. publicagenda.org/ Institute for Responsive Education Northeastern University Nightingale Hall Boston, MA 02115 Phone: 617/373-2595 Fax: 617/373-8924 Contact: Tony Wagner Phone: 617-373-4479	Jefferson Center for New Democratic Processes 100 West Lake St., Suite 405 Minneapolis, MN 55416 Phone: 612/926-3292 Fax 612/926-3199 jcenter@ usinternet.com http://www. jefferson- center.org Contact: Doug Nethercut