Governance and Policy ResourcesResearch, guidance and services for effective school board governance

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. Schools alone cannot address all of the challenges of closing the achievement gap and educating all students at high levels. A comprehensive, communitywide approach to meeting the needs of the whole child can make a significant impact on students’ educational outcomes and help close the achievement gap among student populations.

Resources

Creating Purposeful Partnerships

• Coalition for Community Schools: The Coalition for Community Schools is a national alliance that raises awareness of community schools and provides resources for community school partnerships.
• Building Healthy Communities: A School Leader’s Guide to Collaboration and Community Engagement – CSBA best practices and strategies for collaboration and engagement between schools and communities
• Strategies for Improving Communication and Collaboration Between Local Educational Agencies and Local Health Departments (6/11)
• Community Schools: partnerships supporting students, families and communities - policy brief for governance teams – Policy brief around collaboration and community schools (school governance teams)
• John W. Gardner Center for Youth: the JGC supports communities in their efforts to create well-coordinated services and systems for youth by providing resources for policy makers and communities interested in community collaboration.

Community Schools Tools and Resources

• "Leveling the Playing Field: Community Schools Confront Poverty to Improve Student Success," from the Partnership for Children and Youth and the United Way (10/13)
• Community Schools Evaluation Toolkit – Coalition for Community Schools Step-by-step toolkit to assist community schools practitioners in evaluating their efforts
• "Community Schools: It Takes a Village", California Schools magazine, Summer 2012