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A new article in the January issue of School Administrator examines a concept conspicuously absent from many recent reform discussions: transparency. The article profiles four school districts whose "openness" and "ongoing communication with the public" helped them win critical bond and finance elections. All four received Gold Medallion awards from the National School Public Relations Association.

The school districts won public support by reaching out to their communities. They learned about the public's aspirations and concerns, and they gave the public a stronger voice in decision-making. They also became much more open about how they spent their money, dispelling common public concerns that public schools will squander any new dose of funds.

School districts that use this approach can point to more than just victories at the polls. They boast stronger, more sustained public engagement in their work, which can in turn fuel critical gains in student learning. For examples of how this works, just take a look at Mobile, Alabama or the South Lane School District in Oregon.

The Gold Medallion winners offer important lessons for school or district leaders who see transparency as a surrender of control or capitulation to their critics. School reform advocates who pursue bare-knuckled reform strategies without consulting their communities' hopes and concerns can also learn a thing or two from the winning districts.