In the simplest terms, capacity refers to the ability to deliver results. In states and communities across the country, policymakers are developing a vital capacity to organize and leverage resources to achieve shared goals on behalf of their clients—students, families and communities. From tiny Tukwila, Washington to sprawling Chicago, Illinois, community schools are bringing together public and private resources to meet the needs of the whole child. Through partnerships, hundreds of community schools are aligning and integrating strategies to support students, strengthen schools, engage families and help build entire communities where learning can happen. Many more places are using components of the community school strategy, but lack the structural and functional capacities to fully implement a vision where resources are coordinated for student success.
The Coalition for Community Schools offers Building Capacity for Community Schools, a series of monographs designed for Coalition members and a wide audience of stakeholders at the state and local level. Its purpose is to encourage and support building systems of community schools by distilling key lessons and recommending actions based on successful practice.
Capacity Series Reports & Guides: