Community Schools: Partnerships supporting students, families and communities
Research has consistently demonstrated that students’ academic achievement is influenced by a variety of conditions outside the school, including their physical, social, emotional and economic circumstances. Therefore, a comprehensive, communitywide approach to meeting the needs of the whole child could potentially make a significant impact on students’ educational outcomes and help close the achievement gap among student populations. The creation of “community schools” is a growing trend that is designed to support student achievement through service-based interventions, expanded learning time models and increased community engagement. When implemented together, community school interventions maximize benefits and allow schools to address multiple factors in students’ lives. Supported by a grant from The California Endowment,
Community Schools: Partnerships supporting students, families and communities provides an overview on the history, characteristics and support of community schools.