Community Schools are an evidence-based, place-based strategy—not a program.
Below are the key components that must exist for a successful Community School to be established.
Community School Coordinators (CSCs) are employed by United Way Community School Lead Partners. They collaborate closely with the school principal and the Community School Leadership Team to identify ongoing needs, evaluate resources and develop an annual “Alignment Plan” aimed at enhancing student outcomes. The CSC also ensures that all initiatives are carried out in accordance with the partnership agreement.
Role of a Community School Coordinator – download
This team is made up of school leadership (Principals and Asst. Principals), CSC, United Way and Lead Partner. All stakeholders provide guidance and support to the Community School Coordinator. This team ensures strong model implementation and effective, aligned utilization of resources and partners to improve student outcomes.
Role of a Community School Principal – download
“How to do it:” CORE Team Meetings – view and download
CORE Team Agenda Template (.pdf) – view and download
CORE Team Agenda Template (Word) – view and download
Leadership Teams are led by the school principal and Community School Director. They include a diverse group of members like teachers, parents, partners and other key stakeholders. This team collectively sets a direction for the Community School by reviewing gathered custom data and helps identify strategies to support student success during the year AND especially during the School Improvement process/Alignment Planning process. They then assist with the implementation of strategic problem-solving solutions to identified challenges.
“How to do it:” Leadership Team and Meetings – view and download
Leadership Team Agenda Template (.pdf) – view and download
Leadership Team Agenda Template (Word) – view and download
This tool is used by each Community School to get a better understanding of what specific needs or barriers to learning exist from the perspective of families and caregivers at each Community School. It is also a great way to capture family voice to include within alignment planning and decision-making processes at each Community School.
“How to do it:” Family Asset and Needs Assessment – view and download
Family Asset and Needs Assessment Flyer Template (English and Spanish) – view and download
Resource Inventory allows Community School Coordinators to assess the broad range of resources already connected to their school or available within their school community. All resources and initiatives brought into a Community School must align with the Alignment Plan developed by the CSCs with input from partners in their Community School Leadership team members and Core Team members with the ultimate goal of improving student outcomes.
“How to do it:” Resource Inventory – view and download
Resource Inventory Template (Word) – view and download
This document is a big-picture view of the strategies and interventions present at a given school. Detailed strategies, action steps, outputs, outcomes, indicators, data sources and measurements are included and evaluated regularly via Core teams and Community School Leadership team meetings.
“How to do it:” Alignment Planning – view and download
Alignment Plan Template (Word) – view and download
Quarterly Spotlights are a way to capture stories and qualitative data within a Community School, providing a holistic picture of the bright spots to share with your school community and partners.
“How to do it:” Quarterly Spotlights – download
The Community Schools initiative is effective because it is a data-driven model based on the Results-Based Accountability Framework. This Results-Based Accountability Annual Report allows Community Schools and the Network to assess the impact of all interventions, strategies and partnerships on key outcomes and indicators for Community Schools.
Each community school operates differently than another one across town or across the country. We know that there are similarities across community schools that have successfully implemented their strategy in how they are structured, what types of programs they offer and how they operate. The Self-Readiness Assessment designed by the National Center for Community Schools aims to help community schools determine for themselves to what extent and how well they are implementing the various components of being a community school.
“How to do it:” Self-Readiness Assessments – view and download
Self-Readiness Assessment Template (Word) – view and download
Looking for something else? Contact United Way’s Community School Network Director, Khushboo Jain, at [email protected].
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Cornerstone Society
Cornerstone Society provides the foundation of our work by each contributing more than $100,000 to the annual campaign.
Make a Corporate Gift
Support causes you believe in, and your company will be recognized for your charitable contribution.
Corporate Partners
View a full list of more than 300 companies and organizations powering the work of your United Way.
