Creating and Using Community Report Cards

What is a community report card? Is a tool for reporting progress – or lack of progress – toward a community goal can serve to document and direct the progress toward that goal 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.  3

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. 4

You might create a community report card (cont.): 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. 5

What are the common elements of community report card? A statement of purpose The report card itself Explanations of chosen indicators and benchmarks An objective measuring system that can show progress toward stated goals (don’t overlook reporting the good news.) 6

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. 7

How do you create a community report card? (cont.) 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). 8

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. 9