Community School Standards

Posted by Coalition for Community Schools on April 10, 2017

Community School Standards

The Community School Standards are designed to engage and support the community schools movement as a standards-driven, evidence-based strategy to promote equity and educational excellence for each and every child.

The standards have three objectives:

1. To help new community schools more effectively develop and implement their community school plans;
2. To assist existing community schools to strengthen the quality of their practice and document outcomes; and
3. To provide a consistent language and framework for advocacy, technical assistance, research, funding and policy efforts.

Background

The community school strategy makes explicit that in order to significantly improve the academic and developmental outcomes of children, schools and community partners—e.g. families, community and faith-based organizations, local government, higher education, public agencies, law enforcement, United Ways and others—must work together so all students have an equitable opportunity to learn and thrive.

While the rationale behind a comprehensive approach to student learning is simple, actual implementation requires a transformational shift in the way public schools function, and the way community partners interact with public schools. It also demands change in all adults working with children and youth.

Community schools leaders and practitioners have spent years honing their practice and identifying what works where and under what conditions. These voluntary standards draw on that experience and offer a touchstone of our collective wisdom.

http://www.communityschools.org//standards/