Nothing About Us Without Us!
A Community Schools Campaign for Columbus
Public schools belong to the people. They are neighborhood anchors, community gathering spaces, and gateways to opportunity. When decisions about school closures, funding, and restructuring are made without meaningful community input, families and educators are left to navigate the consequences.
The Nothing About Us, Without Us! Community Schools Campaign is a citywide effort led by the Columbus Education Justice Coalition to ensure that students, families, educators, and community members are at the center of decisions shaping our schools.
Students
✳︎
Families
✳︎
Educators
✳︎
Neighbors
✳︎
Community Partners
Students ✳︎ Families ✳︎ Educators ✳︎ Neighbors ✳︎ Community Partners
Why This Campaign Matters
Columbus is at a crossroads. School closures and budget decisions have created instability and uncertainty for many neighborhoods. We believe the answer is not divestment — it’s deeper investment.
Our campaign calls for expanding and fully implementing a Sustainable Community Schools model in Columbus — a research-backed approach that transforms schools into hubs of integrated supports, expanded learning opportunities, collaborative leadership, and authentic family engagement.
Community schools are not a program. They are a long-term commitment to:
Stable, well-funded neighborhood schools
Wraparound supports for students and families
Shared decision-making with community voice
Partnerships that strengthen, rather than replace, public education
What We’re Fighting For
We are organizing to ensure that:
No major decisions about our schools happen without transparent, meaningful community engagement
Public school funding is protected and equitably distributed
School closures are not treated as a first response to budget challenges
Columbus adopts sustainable policies that grow and strengthen neighborhood schools
Our Vision for the Future
We envision a Columbus where every neighborhood school is fully resourced, culturally affirming, and rooted in the community it serves. Where families are partners — not afterthoughts. Where educators are supported. Where students thrive.
This campaign is about power — collective power. It’s about building a future where public education is shaped with the people most impacted by it.
Because nothing about our schools should happen without us.
Get Involved!
Attend a community meeting
Join our organizing team
Share your story
Advocate for sustainable community schools
Together, we can protect and strengthen public education in Columbus — now and for generations to come.
