April 2000Vol. I, No. 6
A Policy Approach to Create and Sustain Community Schools
This document is intended to serve as a template for individuals considering policy options for community schools and related aspects of the relationship between schools and communities.Upcoming Events
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Partners in the Coalition share a broad vision for community schools-not as "add on" programs that operate outside the regular school day-but as community institutions that are capable of improving academic and broader developmental outcomes for youth, as well as their families and their communities.
This is a critical time in the community schools movement. Governments at the local, state and federal levels, as well as corporate and private funders, are expanding the resources they provide for programs implemented as part of a community schools approach. Community schools have become a vibrant issue in many policy arenas across the nation, and there is a sense that now is a time of opportunity for community schools.
Drawing upon their experience in policy issues at all levels, Coalition partners have developed this policy brief to inform the debate and decision-making process. It is essential to share what Coalition members have learned, so that communities, states and the federal government can make the most of this opportunity.
The Coalition's policy approach is based on the experiences of initiatives at the local, state and national levels-describing the policy decisions that shaped these efforts and the impact of those decisions on the development of community schools. The document - a work in progress - has been developed through a series of structured interviews with Coalition partners and others with experience in local, state and federal government agencies, nonprofit organizations, foundations, capacity-building and technical assistance organizations, and higher education institutions.
The policy approach considers six major policy issues that affect community schools:
I. Universality and Equity: Which schools and students should community schools serve?
II. Accountability for Results: What results are community schools designed to achieve?
III. Governance: What governance structures best support and maintain quality community schools?
IV. Financing: How can funding for community schools be most effective in achieving priority outcomes?
V. Staffing and Professional Development: How can community schools attract and develop staff to serve youth well?
VI. Family, Youth and Community Involvement: How can community schools develop mutually beneficial relationships with families, youth and other members of the community?
The Coalition is anxious to receive feedback about the utility of this policy approach, as well as changes or additions to specific policy recommendations. If you have developed specific policies in your state, community, community school or agency, please share them with us. Participate in our Policy Discussion Forum.