December 2011
Vol. VIII No. 9
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The community schools movement is growing, and with it, the involvement and support of teachers, paraprofessionals, and their unions.
National teacher unions have always been strong supporters of the community schools strategy. The two largest, the National Education Association and the American Federation of Teachers, are both original partners in the Coalition for Community Schools. Now, local union affiliates are increasingly getting involved in community school initiatives.
Implementing a community school requires ways of thinking and acting that are different from traditional schools. Not only do community schools need strong partnerships, but educators must also make important decisions about scheduling, personnel, and instruction. With the shared leadership structure of a community school, it behooves teachers and their unions to be involved in those decision-making processes, according to union leaders we spoke with.
"The bottom line is community schools do not improve student achievement alone. The only way you can get that is participation from teachers," said Joan Devlin, Senior Associate Director at the American Federation of Teachers.
Devlin, a Coalition Steering Committee member since 1997, who is soon retiring, has been pushing teachers as essential partners in community school initiatives for more than two decades.
An involved union can help community partners understand issues from their members' perspective and assist teachers and other staff in crafting mutually satisfactory solutions.
The Coalition, in partnership with the Center for American Progress, released a report Jan. 18 that argues that districts, unions, and other key stakeholders must share ownership and work collaboratively to build strong communities.
Click here to read more about union involvement in community schools.
Download a PDF of The Crucial Role of Teachers and Teacher Unions
Click here for our updated 'Your Leadership Role' webpage for unions
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The Center for American Progress released two reports on school-community partnerships this week. Lightening The Load (left) highlights how wraparound services found in community schools make teachers more effective. Achieving Results Through Community School Partnerships (authored by the Coalition) highlights the successful partnerships and strategies of community schools forged by school district and community leaders.
Center for American Progress hosted a roundtable discussion Jan. 18 in conjunction with the release of the reports. Click here for more information.
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