New Book: Community Schools: People and Places Transforming Education and Communities

Posted by Rowman & Littlefield on August 13, 2019

by JOANNE FERRARA AND REUBEN JACOBSON

“For community schools advocates and practitioners alike, this book makes clear why community schools are so important. It is a must-read blue print for anyone who cares about helping at-risk and vulnerable children by strengthening neglected neighborhood schools and investing in public education.”—Randi Weingarten, president, American Federation of Teachers, AFL-CIO

“In these challenging times, community schools have proven to be a powerful strategy to ensure that all children receive the full range of supports they need to be ready to learn: from health care and social services to before and after school experiences that reinforce classroom instruction to opportunities for families to become educationally engaged. This insightful book shows how a diverse set of leaders across a community can work together to improve schools. Its vivid examples inspire hope and pave a path to progress.”—Linda Darling-Hammond, president, Learning Policy Institute; professor emeritus, Stanford University

“There is growing interest throughout the country in community schools that can respond holistically to the needs of children. This book describes how to make such schools work. The authors analyze the critical role of leadership and what they must do to coordinate the delivery of services to ensure success. For educators, policy makers and parents who seek to create schools that can serve as genuine assets to their communities, this book will be an excellent resource.”—Pedro A. Noguera Ph.D, distinguished professor of education, UCLA Graduate School of Education & Information Studies

Ferrara and Jacobson go inside community schools across the country to explore the different roles that make this collaborative education reform work. This book provides practitioners, policymakers, family members, youth, and local leaders a greater understanding of the different roles that make up a community school and tools for action. Built on years of practice, research, and continuous improvement, community schools are an innovative, effective, and grassroots strategy for bringing schools and communities together in order to improve outcomes for students, families, and communities. This education reform is growing as school site, local, and state leaders seek collaborative solutions to our schools’ most persistent challenges. The contributors, experts in the field, represent a diverse group of people with longstanding commitments to the community school strategy. From principals to family members, from community partners to teachers, this book illustrates how together, we all have a part to play in the development of successful community schools.

JoAnne Ferrara is the associate dean of undergraduate programs and a professor. Prior to joining the Manhattanville faculty, she held positions as a general and special education teacher, a literacy coach, and school administrator for the New York City Department of Education.

Reuben Jacobson is an adjunct professor at the American University in Washington, D.C. Previously, Reuben served as the Deputy Director for the Coalition for Community Schools at the Institute for Educational Leadership (IEL). Reuben has been a leader in the community schools field for 10 years, helping to grow and strengthen community schools by working with national partners and local leaders.

April 2019 • 170 pages
•Hardback 978-1-4758-3140-5
•Paperback 978-1-4758-3141-2
•eBook 978-1-4758-3142-9

Please visit http://www.rowman.com or call (800) 462-6420 to place an order.