Community Schools in Practice

Community Schools in Practice describes how community schools serve as the hub of a comprehensive approach to education and school improvement, designed to ensure equity for all students, regardless of their location or life circumstances. They operate through strategic partnerships with community organizations to deliver a range of supports, including academic assistance, health and mental health services, youth development, and family engagement. These supports are grounded in effective practices such as collaborative leadership, integrated student services, expanded learning opportunities, meaningful student and family engagement, a culture of care and belonging, and rigorous, community-connected classroom instruction—creating the essential conditions for effective teaching and learning.

This book showcases the work of practitioners who have, over the years, enacted successful community schools. Each chapter provides a rationale for becoming a community school and robust examples of “pictures of practice” to support the implementation of policies, practices, and systems.