Nearly 10 local public and private house parties are scheduled in Dent, Fairfield, Florence, Hamilton, Liberty Township, Monroe, Walnut Hills and other neighborhoods as part of the National Mobilization for Great Public Schools.

The movement is a push to discuss challenges in education and the need for more federal aid to improve education. About 3,800 parties are scheduled nationwide.

"In what is anticipated to be the largest mobilization for great public schools in the country's history, thousands of Americans will be meeting in living rooms, libraries, schools, and community centers across the country to discuss the successes, challenges, and opportunities in our public education system," said Staci Maiers, a spokeswoman for the National Education Association.

The nationwide initiative is being led by a coalition of pro-public education groups that includes the National Education Association, Campaign for America's Future, Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN), MoveOn.org, NAACP Voter Fund, and U.S. Hispanic Leadership Institute.

While billed as a nonpartisan effort, the movement takes President Bush to task, saying funding for No Child Left Behind legislation and special education are inadequate.

At the house parties, participants will watch a seven-minute video about the challenges facing public schools, followed by a group discussion about how the video applies to their community.

Participants will be asked to sign a petition that calls on "the president and Congress to keep their promises to our children, and increase, not cut, funding for our schools."

Partygoers also will be asked to register themselves and others to vote, participate in a Call-In To Congress Day on Sept. 29, as well as pledge to help the movement grow.

U.S. Rep. John Boehner, the House Education & Workforce Committee chairman, has unveiled a Web site responding to the movement's claims, http://edworkforce.house.gov/nclb.htm.

"This new Web site will counter the smear campaign being mounted against No Child Left Behind by these radical left-wing political organizations," the Republican congressman said.

For information about the National Mobilization for Great Public Schools, to find a local gathering or RSVP to participate in a local house party, visit www.greatpublicschools.org.

E-mail ckranz@enquirer.com