Urban Network of Community Schools

·         Serve as a professional learning community for leaders of community school initiatives. 

·         Act as the "pulse" of the field for the Steering Committee and Coalition staff, providing input and advice on the direction and key activities of the Coalition.

 

·         To provide a forum for identifying, exploring and learning about emerging issues in community school practice;

·         To share and develop solutions among peers to challenges experienced by community school initiatives;

·         To provide feedback, stories and lessons from the field to guide and support the Coalition’s work and be included in its work products (reports, websites, etc.); and

·         To identify policy and advocacy opportunities and challenges emanating from community schools practice, and to inform the Coalition’s policy and advocacy agenda. Members of the Network will participate in the Coalition’s Federal policy development process.

 

Membership: The Network’s members are community school initiatives across the country represented by their selected leaders. These "leaders" will represent key systems level players in local community school efforts and they will also serve as formal mentors to prospective sites. The size or location of the initiative is not a criterion for membership, but rather that the organization is actively engaged in implementing community schools. They will have at least 1 community school on the ground and have in place a plan and strategy for developing and implementing community schools in multiple sites. Those who want to participate in the Network will submit a 1 page description including their plan and strategy. The Network includes established and emerging groups. Coalition staff will support ongoing convening, maintenance, and recruitment, of membership.

 

Affinity Groups: In addition to the main Network, affinity groups of the Network will be formed to address areas or characteristics specific to subsets of the Network (such as systemic initiatives, rural initiatives, initiatives with Cradle to Career efforts, etc.). These affinity groups may be ongoing, ad hoc or one-time and will be determined through assessing member needs and interests.

 

Meetings: The Network will meet at least twice per year, if possible in conjunction with another convening (CCS national conference, CCS partners meeting, NCCS Practicum).   Monthly conference calls and/or webinars for the full Network will be organized. Affinity groups may choose to host additional calls or webinars based on need.