Education as Community Partnerships: An Ethnographic Study of the US Coalition of Essential Schools (CES) and the Australian National School Network (NSN)

This paper presents the experiences of non-bureaucratic organisations - networks or community partnerships - within educational systems of two countries, namely the United States of America and Australia. The American network is called the Coalition of Essential Schools (CES) and is based in Oakland, California. The Australian network is called the National Schools Network (NSN) and is located in Sydney, Australia. Comprehensive ethnographic research was undertaken in the head office and at schools belonging to the NSN from 1999 to 200 I. Extensive qualitative interviews were also conducted at the main office and regional centers of CES from October to December 2000.