LOCAL INITIATIVES

The principles and strategies of The Community Agenda are taking root in all across the country. The following local initiatives are rising stars in the community school movement for their sustained commitment to strengthening schools, families and communities so that children and youth succeed.

Berkeley, CA: Berkeley 2020The Berkeley City Council joined Berkeley Unified School District (BUSD) and United in Action (a community-based multi-ethnic coalition) in a campaign to combat the achievement gap by unanimously adopting a resolution that establishes the 2020 Vision for Berkeley’s Children and Youth.  By approving the 2020 Vision for Berkeley’s Children and Youth resolution both the City of Berkeley and BUSD commit to working with the community to develop and implement plans and models for internal and cross-jurisdictional collaboration to remove barriers to learning and to promote healthy development for all Berkeley’s children and youth.

Chicago Community Schools, IL A citywide initiative seeks to transform public schools into hubs of learning, services, and enrichment for students, parents, and entire communities. Also, read more about the Chicago Public Schools Education Plan.

Evansville, IN School Community Council The School-Community Council does not take a "one-size-fits-all" approach to the establishment of community collaborations or the delivery of programs and services.  By forming a School Site Council at each school, parents, youth, neighbors and school personnel can determine the goals for each school-based site, and then utilize the broader School-Community Council for guidance and assistance as necessary.

Kansas City, MO  - The Local Investment Commission (LINC) represents an extensive system reform effort that includes education, social services, health care and community redevelopment. LINC has 48 community schools with six partner school districts, charter schools and local government. It has enjoyed broad support from the Kansas City business community and has a special relationship with the state’s social services department and other state agencies.

Lehigh Valley, PA A Coalition for Community Schools’ partner, located in the Northeast corner of Pennsylvania, has been perfecting their partnership and collaboration skills since they launched their ambitious COMPASS Community Schools Initiative (Community Partners for Student Success) in 2005.

Lincoln, NE Lincoln Community Learning Centers Initiative has created 19 comprehensive learning centers. Lincoln is unique in organizing arrangements at community school system, school and neighborhood levels.

Nashville, TN: Alignment Nashville Alignment Nashville has created a system to bring community organizations and resources into alignment so that their coordinated support of Nashville’s youth has a positive impact on public school success and the success of our community as a whole.

Portland, OR: SUN SchoolsThe SUN Initiative is a collaboration of city, county, state and school districts in Portland/Multnomah County, Oregon. SUN Schools work to extend the school day and strive to be a community "hub" by linking with other community institutions, such as the libraries, parks and community centers, neighborhood health clinics and area churches and businesses.

Sayre High School, Philadelphia, PA Sayre High School is a community school operating in partnership with the Netter Center for Community Partnerships at the University of Pennsylvania.  As a community school, Sayre not only has a health clinic and after school program, but they infuse community issues directly into the curriculum.  Through a methodology called service-learning, teachers and students tap into the community to address health challenges such as lead-based paint, obesity, and hypertension, building awareness that helps the community at-large.

Tukwila, WA The Community Schools Collaboration began in 2001 in Tukwila as a collaborative partnership between Casey Family Programs, the Puget Sound Educational Service District (PSESD), the TukwilaSchool District, the City of Tukwila and the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services, Children’s Administration.  The equally shared voice of the five partner agencies represented a groundbreaking effort in public private partnership and demonstrated one method for developing truly community based programming.

Tulsa, OK In Tulsa, the community schools concept is organized & supported through the TACSI (Tulsa Area Community Schools Initiative) community-wide partnership. The initiative is delivered at SUNS (Schools Uniting Neighborhoods for Student Success) sites in neighborhood elementary schools in the Tulsa and Union districts.

CLICK HERE to learn about other local initiatives and the work they are doing!

NEW Federally Funded Full Service Community Schools Sites The federal government recently funded 10 communities to create full service community schools.