New community schools law makes a splash with Aurora Public Schools teachers
Local teacher union advocates hope the Aurora Public Schools district will take advantage of a new law allow allowing struggling schools to become not just learning centers but also food banks, mental health clinics, adult language classrooms and laundromats, with mindfulness and meditation built into school curriculum. Read More >
Competing priorities: Comparing the DFL, GOP and Walz education budgets
School safety and student mental health, school funding increases, and varied approaches to early childhood education all got attention in spending plans brought by the governor, the House and the Senate. During the 10-day spring break at the Legislature, Minnesota Department of Education Commissioner Mary Cathryn Ricker embarked on another statewide education tour to tout Gov. Tim Walz’s plan, which includes a 3 percent general education funding boost for fiscal year 2020 and another 2 percent for 2021. She said school leaders she’s meeting with this week hope to see that hefty increase in the final budget. Read More >
Sparks fly at Saanich's Spectrum community school during announcement
Wearing safety goggles, local minister of education and board chair used pliers to hold up the metal banner with the phrase "Spectrum SD 61 Metal Shop". The district said in a release that the enhancements will not only enhance, but also offer students a greater variety of career pathways, and increase their opportunities for hands-on learning. Read More >
Madison commuity schools look to be an 'extension of home'
The community schools strategy is working in the Madison school district! The district is seeing positive results. Math scores from spring '18 are higher among community schools participants. Students on track for graduation increased by 54% in 2018. Read More >
Las Cruces middle school opens first on-campus dental clinic with DAAC partnernship
Las Cruces middle school partnership with Dona Ana Community College to bring in the first on-campus dental clinic and Delta Dental grant allowed them to purchase mobile dental equipment. This is what a community school looks like! Read More >
Elkhart Community Schools and an Indiana non-profit provide to-go meals for students
A pilot program involving five Indiana schools and a local non-profit seeks to provide to-go meals for students in need by making use of excess cafeteria food. The partnership between Elkhart Community Schools and the northern Indiana non-profit Cultivate Culinary School & Catering began in March. Read More >
Community Schools Pilot Project at Lincoln Elementary School
Grand Island Public Schools has embarked on a unique approach to educating children with its community schools pilot project at Lincoln Elementary School. This approach sees the schools as the center of the community for the families of their students. Read More >
Coloma Community Schools gets Grant for Video System
Coloma Community Schools will get to complete another maintenance project on the district's priority list, thanks to a grant from the Michigan State Police. The district announced Thursday that it was awarded $173,306 in grant funding from MSP to support school safety initiatives. Read More >
Harper Creek Snags Large Grant for Community Schools
Harper Creek Community Schools has been awarded a sizable grant to go towards school security.
The Michigan State Police announced, Wednesday, that numerous schools and school districts will receive a total of $25 million in state grants to improve the safety and security of students, staff and school buildings through the purchase of technology and equipment. Read More >
Planned community schools aim to make social supports more accessible
The Lebanon School District and United Way of Lebanon County plan to create two community schools in the city this fall. Eighty percent of kids in Lebanon School District qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, and the district's education attainment levels are low compared to other districts in the county and state. Read More >