Building More Effective Community Schools

Summary

This report helped cities and site teams navigate education-related issues as part of the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s Making Connections initiative. It shares vital know-how, next steps, strategies and technical resources aimed at helping these groups advance a simple premise: Strong community schools = stronger families. 

Table of Contents

• Table of Contents
• Preface to Family Strengthening Resource Guides
• Executive Summary
• Introduction
• Potential Requests, Opportunities, and Challenges
• What Issues Might Neighborhood Residents and Leaders Raise About Schools?
• What Are the Trends and Opportunities on Which Sites Can Build?
• What Challenges Might Sites Face?
• Promising Approaches and Resources
• Accelerating the Improvement of Strong Publicly Funded Schools
• Transforming Existing Public Schools Through School Improvement
• Creating New Schools in the Neighborhood
• Strengthening Linkages Among School-Family-Community Partners
• Involving Families in School Transformation and Creation
• Fostering School-Community Partnerships That Strengthen Families and Neighborhoods
• Increasing Choice
• Supporting Systemic Reforms
• Resources
• Appendix: Additional Programs and Organizations Located in or Near Making Connections Sites

Key Takeaway

Schools have the potential to act as family strengthening organizations

Strong community schools connect households to three types of resources that are necessary to strengthen families: 1) economic opportunities; 2) social networks; and 3) assorted services and supports.