Welcome to the e-learning site for the AFT’s 2023 Center for School Improvement Leadership Institute. CSI 2023 will focus on supporting labor-management-community teams to understand what it takes to develop, implement and sustain community schools.
Community schools are part of the AFT's What Kids and Communities Need Campaign and the kinds of classroom initiatives, educator supports, and school-based enrichment programs that help kids and communities succeed in the long term.
To be successful, educators, district, and community partners must unite around a common vision for community schools. Community schools connect students, families, and staff to partners and supports while creating a welcoming environment that is culturally responsive and built on mutual respect. That is why community schools are integral to this campaign and why AFT is pursuing their expansion across the country.
During the institute, teams will have access to resource experts and technical assistance to support their work with district and/or school leadership teams.
Interactive deep-dive sessions will create and strengthen union-management-community partnerships to:
Examine school/district mission and vision for alignment;
Evaluate current procedures, policies, and data to identify gaps and opportunities;
Utilize effective communications strategies to engage all stakeholders in productive collaborative teams grounded in a set of shared values; and
Create an action plan that incorporates collaborative team processes—including giving students and families a voice and engaging them in the process—to advance a system of change focused on the teams’ district/school needs.
