What is a community school?
Community learning centers. Full-service schools. Community hubs. Whatever you call them, community schools make a difference in the lives of children, families, educators, and their communities each and every day. By moving beyond the normal confines of the school and partnering with local stakeholders, community schools provide real solutions to the unique problems of the students and families they serve, and are another major step forward in reclaiming the promise of public education.
Community schools aren’t just centers of education; they’re the new heart of the community itself that help create better conditions for both teaching and learning. They’re a place where teachers, families, community members and service providers can come together in coordinated, purposeful and results-focused partnerships. These schools become the center of their communities by providing the services to students, families and neighbors that best serve their needs, while at the same time promoting stable, healthy neighborhoods. This isn’t just another program: It’s a paradigm shift in the way we think about schools that goes well beyond just providing supports and services for students.
Why community schools?
*Community schools provide a framework for school improvement that taps into our value system and belief that every child deserves a high-quality, equitable public education.
*Community schools bring together the relationships and assets of a neighborhood, Community schools can efficiently and effectively utilize resources to advance the well-being of children and their families now and for future generations.
Community Schools Network e-Community, making it easier to support each other in a virtual world.
AFT recognizes that stakeholders come from a mix of backgrounds and the road to a community school is seldom linear. This virtual community is a space to connect those who are working to build community schools across the country and lift up their work. It is a place to access resources, including webinars and trainings, as well as engage in problem solving and share ideas with fellow practitioners through our discussion boards and Office Hours.
Welcome and we look forward to having you as part of this virtual community!
