About Community Schools Agenda • Introductory Comments by Superintendent Wiegand • Children’s Aid Society video • Explanation of Community Schools • Implementation Plan • Q & A
Definition of a Community School • How do we define Community Schools? • A community school is both a place and a set of partnerships between the school and other community resources. Its integrated focus on academics, services, supports, and opportunities leads to improved student learning, stronger families, and healthier communities. Community Schools support disenfranchised groups in our school community that do not have the social and cultural capital needed to navigate the school district.
Why Community Schools? • All students deserve to thrive and succeed in school, career and life • Many CU4 students and families experience barriers to success, such as: – Chronic, preventable, health conditions – Exposure to violence – Chronic absenteeism – Hunger & poor nutrition – Transiency & Homelessness – Discrimination & racism
Community School Strategy • No one group can overcome all of the barriers faced by students and families. Therefore, we: – Engage the whole community in overcoming barriers and promoting student success – Treat families as partners and stakeholders in educational success of their children – Partner with city, county and local organizations to bring needed services to the schools and neighborhood – Weave services together to create a support network for students and families
Who are the Partners?
Community School Desired Results • Children are ready to enter school • Students succeed academically • Students attend school consistently and are actively involved in learning and their community • Students are physically, socially, and emotionally healthy • Students live and learn in stable and supportive environments • Families are actively involved in their children’s education • Communities are desirable places to live
Where are we now? • We decided to begin the journey to be a Full Service Community School District • We have selected three schools to pilot the Community School approach: – Garden Hills Elementary – Booker T. Washington Elementary – Stratton Elementary • We have appointed an Executive Director of Student, Family & Community Supports
Timeline
What’s next? • We are beginning a 10-month planning process that will culminate in August 2017 as we launch the three pilot sites: – Conduct asset mapping and an inclusive needs assessment of parents, teachers and partners – Develop agreements with partners – Develop a Community Schools Council – Develop an evaluation plan to measure results – Design/begin integrated services at the pilot sites – Conduct an ongoing cycle of inquiry and improvement
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