Making schools a community focus
Community schools represent a place-based school improvement strategy that partners schools with community agencies, families, and local government to provide an integrated focus on academics, health and social services, youth, family and community development, and community engagement.
As an evidence-based strategy for equitable school improvement, National Education Policy Center and Learning Policy Institute researchers identify four key features that we promote:
- Integrated student supports
- Expanded learning time opportunities
- Family and community engagement
- Collaborative leadership practices
Community schools engage their neighborhoods, and organize and align community resources to foster student success.
They ensure children get a quality education in a safe, nurturing, youth-development-focused environment. And they provide support services for youth, their families, and neighbors after school.
In fact, community schools are the hub of their neighborhoods, providing residents supports to succeed.