District Administration - September 2006 - (Page 67)
COMMUNITY RELATIONS Growing Community Schools These schools deliver
academic improvement, increased attendance and reduced mobility By Lisa
Fratt E ducation cannot succeed if mu n it y schools offer a variety of
schools ignore the realities of 21st before school and after-school
century families and communities, services to support students and
contends Martin Blank, staff direc- their families. At the same time, tor
of the Coalition for Community each community school is unique, Schools.
The flip side? Schools can sculpted to local needs. nurture success among
the entire stu- Dist r ic t s across the country have dent population by
mobilizing com- embraced the community school OUTREACH Herzl Elementary
School munity assets to support students and model and shared their
strategies students participate in an array of programs from dance to
community school advisory their families. These principles drive and
results in the recently released council meetings to after-school
activities the community school model. Growing Community Schools report.
for students and families. T he heart of the community Here, DISTRICT
ADMINISTRATION school is a set of partnerships peeks inside a few
districts employ- between the school and community i ng this model.
Anatomy of a organizations to Community School create an inte- Community
on the Mega-Level Here are a few common elements of a g r a t e d program
More than 100 Chicago K-8 community school: that combines elementary
schools have adopted
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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of District Administration - September 2006