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Table of Contents >
   Part B. Community Assessment, Agenda Setting, and Choice ... >
      Chapter 3. Assessing Community Needs and Resources >
         Section 18. Creating and Using Community Report Cards. >
             Tools & Checklists - A checklist that summarizes the major points contained in the section. >

Creating and Using Community Report Cards

  

Tools & Checklists

  

Checklist

Here, you’ll find a checklist which summarizes the major points contained in the text.

What is a community report card?

__ A community report card is a tool for reporting progress – or lack of progress – toward a community goal.

__ A community report card can serve to document and direct the progress toward that goal.

__ A community report card only brings a message.  The people who issue and receive it must be the actual agents of change.

 

Why might you create a community report card?

__ People understand it.

__ Selection of a few key issues or categories helps focus attention for problem solving.

__ Report cards effectively communicate a general message, yet allow for more specific levels of detail. 

 

You might create a community report card:

__ To communicate the facts of a situation – to your own group or a wider audience.

__ To interpret the facts.

__ To raise awareness of an issue in the general public or more specific audiences.

__ To define goals.

__ To prompt action.

__ To influence policy.

__ To help make a case for a new initiative.

__ To be accountable to those you serve.

__ To hold others accountable.

 

What are the common elements of community report card?

__ A statement of purpose, possibly with a call to action.

__ The report card itself.

__ Explanations of chosen indicators and benchmarks.

__ An objective measuring system that can show progress toward stated.

 

How do you create a community report card?

__ Decide what your purpose is in producing a report card. Form a working group to determine what you want to communicate, to whom, and for what reason.

__ Set a timeline for your project that relates to your goals.

__ Determine the essential actors and actions.

__ Identify indicators related to your goals.

__ Identify benchmarks for each indicator that are meaningful and measurable.

__ Determine your grading scale and system.

__ Compile the data for your indicators and benchmarks, then translate into a grade based on your predetermined system.

__ Produce the report card (print and/or electronic).

 

How do you use a community report card?

__ Publicize and distribute the report card.

__ Tell people what they can do.

__ Continue to call attention to the important grades and the actions you want them to prompt.

__ Update the report card.