New Report: Community Schools Make the Difference

Posted by on June 6, 2003

[posted from Public Education Network newsblast]

COMMUNITY SCHOOLS MAKE THE DIFFERENCE

A new report from the Coalition for Community Schools uses research from multiple fields to demonstrate that community schools fulfill five conditions necessary for ALL children to succeed: a strong core instructional program, motivated and engaged learners, meeting the basic needs of young people and their families, effective collaboration among parents, families and school staff, and community engagement. It argues that community schools have three advantages over traditional schools — they garner community resources to reduce non-academic demands on school staff; they provide learning opportunities that develop both academic and non-academic competencies (social, emotional and personal); and they build social capital that disadvantaged students and communities need. The report outlines an action agenda to create more community schools that focuses on four elements: a motivating vision; connected learning experiences; community partnerships; and strategic organization and financing.

http://www.communityschools.org/mtdhomepage.html