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Building Flourishing Communities Through Community Schools

Learn about the Coalition for Community Schools' strategy to unite school, community, and family for student success, emphasizing partnerships, resources leverage, and personalized curriculum. Discover the impact on academic achievement and graduation rates.

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Building Flourishing Communities Through Community Schools

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  1. Community schools: a strategy, not a program Martin Blank, President IEL, Director Coalition for Community Schools, April 15, 2015 www.communityschools.org

  2. About the coalition • Established in 1997 • House at the Institute for Educational Leadership • Alliance of over 200 national, state and local organizations • Our partners span the sectors of education K-16, youth development, community planning and development, family support, health and human services, government and philanthropy as well as national, state and local community school networks

  3. Many partners, one vision www.communityschools.org

  4. Coalition vision and mission • Vision: Schools are centers of flourishing communities where everyone belongs, works together, and thrives. • Mission: To unite school, community and family for young people’s success.

  5. Community School Core Principles • Shared vision and accountability for results • Strong partnerships • Leveraging resources • Alignment of school and community assets • High expectations for all • Community strengths • Respect for diversity • Local decision making www.communityschools.org

  6. A strategy, not a program • Integrated focus on academics, health and social services, youth and community development and family and community engagement. • Aligns resources of school and community to attain improved student learning and development and strong families and communities. • Offer a personalized curriculum that emphasizes real-world learning and community problem-solving. • Schools become centers of the community and are open to everyone – all day, every day, evenings and weekends. • Vehicle for educational equity and an instrument for social justice

  7. Community Schoolsarecipe FOR Success Community Schools are Smart Schools Community Schools help students learn Community Schoolsbuild strongcommunities The same “black box” of ingredients that makes the Mediterranean Diet so effective is the same recipe that community schools use

  8. Community Schools Framework

  9. THEORY OF ACTION: A Scaled-Up System of Community Schools

  10. Keys at the school site • Supportive Principal • Involved Teachers • Community School Coordinator • School Site Leadership Team • Results Focus • Engaged Partners

  11. School Leadership Teams www.communityschools.org

  12. Our Impact and Outcomes for Children Academic Achievement Cost-Effective Strategy Increased Graduation Rates Keeping Students in School Early Childhood Readiness A 2014 report by ChildTrends, a nonprofit, nonpartisan research center, synthesized rigorous evaluations of community school initiatives, particularly integrated student supports, and concluded that there is growing evidence that community schools reduce grade retention and dropout rates, while increasing attendance, math achievement, and grade point average.

  13. resources • We’re here to help! www.communityschools.org • On our website: • Case studies, research and current school board policies • Resources uniquely for school board members and other roles (educator, parent, community partner, etc.) • How to start a community school toolkit • Moving forward: • Site visits to nearby community schools & initiatives • Peer learning networks • Ongoing support from Coalition staff www.communityschools.org

  14. Union Role In Community Schools Development • Communicate the challenges student and their teachers face to other organizations and the public • Build relationships and partnerships with other key institutions • Grow community support for starting community schools • Get involved in community schools development • Make sure teachers are informed and receptive •  Advocate for Parent-Teacher Home Visits and Academic Parent Teachers Teams

  15. Teacher Roles in Community Schools • Participate in site-based leadership teams • Get to know community partners in the schools. • Know how to refer and support students • Know how to interact with kids in a trauma-informed manner (ACES – Adverse Child Experiences Study)

  16. Thank you! Martin Blank (blankm@iel.org) Coalition for Community Schools (www.communityschools.org)

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