< Back to Outreach Services

Community School is a term that promotes the people backing the school and emphasizes support and opportunity. The vision of the Community School Initiative is to place students at the center of academic achievement, health and social supports, and authentic family engagement to ensure shared ownership and investment by the community in the lives of its youngest members. The Community School initiative achieves this vision by:

• Shared vision and accountability for results. A clear, mutually agreed-upon vision focused on results drives the work of community schools. Agreements enable partners to hold each other accountable and move beyond "turf battles."

• Strong partnerships. Partners share resources and expertise and collaborate to design community schools and make them work.

• High expectations for all. Community schools are organized to support learning. Children, youth, and adults are expected to learn to a high standard and to become contributing members of their community.

• Community strengths. Community schools marshal the assets of the entire community, including the people who live and work there, local organizations, and the school.

• Respect for diversity. Community schools know their communities. They develop respect and a strong, positive identity for people of diverse backgrounds and are committed to the welfare of the whole community.

• Local decision making. To unleash the power of local communities, local leaders make decisions about their community schools strategy while people in individual schools respond to their unique circumstances.

• Early childhood development programs are available to nurture growth and development.

• The school offers a core instructional program delivered by qualified teachers; instruction is organized around a challenging curriculum anchored by high standards and expectations for students.

• Students motivated and engaged in learning—in both school and community settings— before, during, and after school and in the summer.

• The basic physical, mental, and emotional health needs of young people and their families are recognized and addressed.

• Parents, families, and school staff demonstrate mutual respect and engage in effective collaboration.

• Community engagement, together with school efforts, promotes a school climate that is safe, supportive, and respectful and that connects students to a broader learning community