Community Schools Information

What is a Community School?
A community school is a public school that has community partnerships that support improved academic outcomes, whole-child engagement, and family development. Community schools support the needs of the whole child by strengthening family and community foundations with approaches that sustain mental and behavioral health through healing-centered practices, social–emotional learning, and restorative justice. Community schools also ensure that students, families, and community members are embraced as full partners in every aspect of decision-making that affects the conditions for teaching and learning. Authentic power sharing and shared decision-making in all aspects of school governance is another cornerstone of community school implementation.

To support this effort, the California Department of Education (CDE) has launched the California Community Schools Partnership Program (CCSPP) that operationalizes California’s nation-leading investment in community school implementation. The California Community Schools Partnership Program (CCSPP) supports schools’ efforts to partner with community agencies and local government to align community resources to improve student outcomes. These partnerships provide an integrated focus on academics, health and social services, youth and community development, and community engagement. To learn more, please visit: https://www.cde.ca.gov/eo/in/ts-communityschools.asp and https://www.cde.ca.gov/ci/gs/hs/ccspp.asp

Did you know....?
Research shows that Community Schools Help Foster:
- Lower Rates of Absenteeism
-  Better Work Habits, Grades, Test Scores and Behaviors
- Higher Enrollment in College Preparatory Classes
- Higher Graduation Rates

Four Pillars of Community Schools
1. Integrated Supports Services
2. Family and Community Engagement
3. Extended Learning Time and Opportunities
4. Collaborative Leadership & Practices for Educators & Administrators