Fact Sheet

Download this fact sheet as a 2-page pdf.

Mission and History

We envision a world in which all children learn and succeed.

By providing practical, innovative training, consultation, facilitation, materials and advocacy, the National Center for Community Schools helps develop comprehensive community schools and enhance existing school-community partnerships that promote academic achievement, youth development, and family and community well-being. The Center provides technical support to individuals and organizations who wish to learn about, adapt or build on the CAS community school model.

Community schools of various models share four overarching characteristics. They are:

Comprehensive – Coordinated partnership resources respond to wide spectrum of need
Collaborative – All stakeholders share leadership and meaningful engagement
Coherent – Programs and services are effectively coordinated and seamlessly integrated
Committed – Sustained long-term partnerships with shared vision and accountability for results

Programmatic components of a community school typically include:

after-school youth development and summer enrichment
family engagement, education and leadership
early childhood programs
medical, dental and mental health services
community and economic development

In 1994, The Children’s Aid Society created the Center in an effort to respond to the increased demand for information and advice about community schools implementation. The Center facilitates learning opportunities that draw on our community schools practice in New York City, as well as lessons learned from around the country. The Center plays a leading role in local and national advocacy to advance the community schools movement and advance this approach in the broader education agenda.

Capacity Building Services and Professional Development

The Center offers training and guidance in all aspects of designing, implementing and sustaining community schools to meet the unique needs and strengths of individual communities. Services are targeted to individual schools, school boards and district administrators, funders, education reform leaders, community organizations, parent associations, policy makers, universities and research centers.

Study visits to CAS Community Schools – Customized visits offer opportunities to meet with peers, view programs during school days and after school, and gain insight from the experiences of teachers, youth workers, parents, administrators, social workers, health clinic staff and students.

Presentations on Community Schools – Center staff are available to present at meetings and professional conferences, including school boards, philanthropic and civic leaders, community events and professional conferences. Our speakers are prepared to present on the vision of a community school, what role this strategy can play in total school reform, how to take the first steps in transforming schools, sustaining programs and creating community school initiatives and supportive systems, as well as all program components.

Professional Development Seminars on Community Schools – Center staff offer a series of sequential professional development seminars that prepare partners to plan and implement the community schools strategy and achieve a successful collaboration.

Planning facilitation – In many cases, Center staff will provide long-term support for a district, municipality, or individual site to develop its CS vision. This may include assisting in raising the funds for the entire initiative, including that necessary for sustained capacity-building activities.

Other Professional Development – The Center offers an extensive menu of training courses and modules on out-of-school time, parent engagement and other components of community schools.

Publications and Information – The Center provides a wide array of materials on community schools including the Building a Community School workbook, a Parents Guide, three videos, planning tools, fact sheets and other handouts. The Center also serves as a clearinghouse of information on community schools nationwide.

Electronic Consultations – Through phone conferencing, Center staff can answer questions about community schools, provide basic advice on first steps in shaping a community school strategy and refer callers to information and networking resources. In-depth consultative services are available on a contractual basis.

Individualized On-Site Consultations – Each school and community is unique. The Center does not encourage a rigid replication of any one model. Instead, personalized consultations about your school, organization and community allow for a customized approach – one that considers the specific assets and needs of the community and builds on local expertise.

Topics on Which We Have Expertise

Forging effective partnerships between schools and community resources
Out-of-school time program quality, including selecting age-appropriate curricular resources
Building and promoting staff quality
Program development
Sustainability
Child and adolescent development
Positive youth development
Needs assessment and responsive planning
Strategies for engaging parents and families in children’s education and healthy development
Connecting research and practice

Highlights Since 1994

Hosted over 10,000 national and international visitors, representing government, education, business, philanthropy, the non-profit sector, the media and the research community.
Responded to 7,500+ technical assistance requests for information, consultation and training.
Presented at over 500 national and international workshops and conferences.
Facilitated development of 15,000+ adaptations of our model in the US and internationally.
Helped found the national Coalition for Community Schools, which brings together local, state and national organizations representing those who create and sustain community schools.
Joined forces with the Ad Council and the Coalition to initiate a public service advertising campaign, which generated 13,000 requests for information about community schools.
Hosted a bi-annual Practicum conference for community school practitioners.
Co-authored, Jane Quinn and Center staff, with researcher Joy Dryfoos and editor Carol Barkin, Community Schools in Action: Lessons from a Decade of Practice (OUP, 2005).
Drafted Full-Service Community Schools legislation for the State of New York.