COMMUNITY SCHOOL PARTNERSHIPS FOR STUDENT SUCCESS Dr. Analee Maestas, Vice President, Albuquerque School Board Mary Kingston Roche, Director of Public Policy, Coalition for Community Schools October 2, 2015

A SCHOOL-COMMUNITY DISCONNECT Schools Cannot Do It Alone:  In a 2015 survey of the state teachers of the year by CCSSO, the biggest barriers to student learning were: 1) poverty and 2) family stress  51% of our nation’s students are low-income  New brain research shows the impact of trauma on children through toxic stress  According to a new America’s Promise Alliance report, young people are more likely to graduate if they have access to a “web of support” Meanwhile, Communities Have So Many Assets to Offer:  Hospitals, Institutions of Higher Education, CBO’s, Businesses, Faith-Based Community, etc. But, A Disconnect Occurs:  The Community doesn’t know how to “get in” (Local United Way chapters are located down the street from schools but don’t know how to connect)  Community resources often go under-utilized if they are not conveniently located (e.g. adult education centers, health clinics, etc.) 2

COMMUNITY SCHOOLS VISION Schools are centers of flourishing communities where everyone belongs, works together, and thrives

A STRATEGY, NOT A PROGRAM What is a community school?  A community school is a place and a set of partnerships connecting school, family and community.  It is an intentional strategy, not a program, to leverage the resources of the community for the benefit of students and families  We believe community schools are a vehicle for educational equity and an instrument for social justice 4

A STRATEGY, NOT A PROGRAM  Its integrated focus on academics, health and social services, youth and community development and community engagement leads to improved student learning, stronger families and healthier communities  Community schools offer a personalized curriculum that emphasizes real-world learning and community problem- solving.  Schools become centers of the community and are open to everyone – all day, every day, evenings and weekends. 5

A STRATEGY, NOT A PROGRAM  The 3 major “value-adds” of a community school:  1) garner additional resources to reduce the demand on school staff for addressing all the challenges that students bring to school  2) provide learning opportunities that develop cognitive, social, emotional, physical and civic competencies  3) build social capital-the networks and relationships that support learning and create opportunities for young people while strengthening their communities 6

Opportunities & Supports Expanded Learning Family & Community Engagement COMMUNITY SCHOOLS FRAMEWORK 12 Results-focused Partnerships

KEY INGREDIENTS OF A COMMUNITY SCHOOL  Supportive Principals  Involved and Skilled teachers and instructional support personnel  Engaged Community partners  Community school coordinator  Site Leadership Team  Community needs and assets assessment  Focus on results and accountability

SCHOOL LEADERSHIP TEAMS

THEORY OF ACTION

OUR IMPACT AND OUTCOMES FOR CHILDREN Increased Graduation Rates Cost-Effective Strategy A 2014 report by ChildTrends, a nonprofit, nonpartisan research center, synthesized rigorous evaluations of community school initiatives, particularly integrated student supports, and concluded that there is growing evidence that community schools reduce grade retention and dropout rates, while increasing attendance, math achievement, and grade point average. Early Childhood Readiness Keeping Students in School Academic Achievement 15

INDICATORS OF SUCCESS  Attendance/Reduction in Chronic Absence  Discipline, suspension & expulsion rates  Student motivation & engagement  Family and Community Engagement  Dropout and graduation rates  Academic Achievement  Student Mobility  Better Health Outcomes 16

GROWING SYSTEMS OF COMMUNITY SCHOOLS This map represents all places, including places with national models such as Communities in Schools, Children’s Aid Society, Beacons, University Assisted Community Schools, and Yale Schools of the 21 st Century. number of places scaling up systems of community schools than in 2007.

ABOUT THE COALITION  Established in 1997  Housed at the Institute for Educational Leadership  Alliance of over 200 national, state and local organizations  Our partners span the sectors of education K-16, youth development, community planning and development, family support, health and human services, government and philanthropy as well as national, state, and local community school networks 18

MANY PARTNERS, ONE VISION 19

VISION/MISSION: COMMUNITY SCHOOLS 2020 Vision Schools are centers of flourishing communities where everyone belongs, works together, and thrives. Mission To unite school, community and family for young people’s success. Principles Foster strong partnerships Share accountability for results High expectations Build on community’s strengths Embrace diversity Local ownership

WHAT WE DO  Research  Policy/Advocacy  Networks  Capacity-Building 21

OUR NETWORKS

COMMUNITY SCHOOLS IN ALBUQUERQUE  Why Community Schools? Why Community Schools? 23

Why do we need Community Schools? The Albuquerque Public School District exceeds the nation with more than 60% of students coming from low-income families.

Laying the Foundation Initial 21 st Community Learning Center Grant – Rio Grande, Highland, and Albuquerque High 2000: Community Conversations City of Albuquerque Planning Grant (est. $200,000) 2005 Community School study was completed (George Otero) – 20+ models of Community Schools showing results – Recommended developing a system of Community Schools 2006: APS, City, and County adopted resolutions to form an appointed Board 2007: Joint Power Agreement approved by the state to form the Albuquerque/Bernalillo County Community School Partnership (ABC)

Local Leaders in Action Councilors Diane Gibson Rey Garduno Mayor’s Office Gilbert Montaño, Chief of Staff School Board Members Dr. Analee Maestas Dr. Don Duran Superintendent Raquel Reedy Commissioners Maggie Hart-Stebbins Wayne Johnson County Manager’s Office Vincent C. Murphy, Deputy County Manage Randy Woodcock, VP and Chief Strategic Officer Sam Garcia, Founder and President of Competitive Benefits Administrators

INTERMEDIARY LEADERSHIP Key Roles: Planning, Coordination, and Management INTERMEDIARY LEADERSHIP Key Roles: Planning, Coordination, and Management ABC COMMUNITY-WIDE LEADERSHIP Key Roles: Vision, Policy, Resource Alignment *Founding Members ABC COMMUNITY-WIDE LEADERSHIP Key Roles: Vision, Policy, Resource Alignment *Founding Members SCHOOL-SITE LEADERSHIP Key Roles: Planning, Implementation, Outcomes SCHOOL-SITE LEADERSHIP Key Roles: Planning, Implementation, Outcomes Results Data & Evaluation Alignment Policy Finance Professional Development Community Engagement Results Data & Evaluation Alignment Policy Finance Professional Development Community Engagement APS Bernco ATF UNM CNM ABEC COA UWCNM Coordinator Students, Families, & Residents Key Functions Collaborative Leadership Structure A FRAMEWORK FOR SCALE-UP: ABC Executive Director, Bernalillo County, City of Albuquerque, and APS Directors/Managers StatePrincipals Teachers & School Staff Community Partners

Opportunity on the Rise: 2010: 3 more Community Schools 2012: City of Albuquerque designates $1.2 million & Hires Executive Director 2013: New Mexico Community Schools Act adopted 2015: 23 Community Schools, and supporting 50+ in afterschool programs

 Making best use of existing resources  Maximize available sources of public revenue  Create greater flexibility in categorical funding  Create public-private partnerships  Explore new state and local revenue sources

Community Schools be Smart Schools  An ABC investment of $20,000 in a Coordinator led to an additional $325,000 of supports & opportunities leveraged in 1 year. Community Schools Build Stronger Communities  Emerson ES decreased student mobility rate by 15% in 1 st yr. Community Schools Help Students Learn  Pajarito ES increased Math scores 23% & Reading scores 13% in 1 st yr. of development. We’ve Seen…  Economically disadvantaged students at West Mesa HS increased Reading & Math scores 20% in 2 years.

What’s next?

PARTNERSHIPS, NOT PUSHOUTS 32

PERSONAL OPPORTUNITY PLANS 33  A POP is an ongoing, student-centered, student-directed process aligned with a set of documents that maximizes students’ academic, personal, and college and career development and fosters success in school and life.  The essential components of a POP are academic advising; personal development; intensive career and college exploration, planning, and preparation; and developmental postsecondary readiness skills and mindsets.  Community Schools are an effective strategy to implement POPs  Four considerations: Capacity, Climate, Community, Cohesion

EXAMPLES: INITIATIVES & POLICIES 34 Initiatives  Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation (EVSC)  Oakland Unified School District  Schools Uniting Neighborhoods (SUN) School Board Policies  Cincinnati, OH  Hartford, CT  Albuquerque, NM

RESOURCES AND SUPPORTS We’re here to help!  Publications (on early childhood linkages, ELO, financing, etc.)  Toolkits for starting a community school, scaling up, etc.  Templates (MOU’s for community partnerships, asset mapping, etc.)  “Your Role” section to explain how different stakeholders can support community schools (principals, school board members, families, etc.)  Monthly newsletter, regular webinars  Making the Case/messaging guide  Policy news and advocacy resources 35

2015 NATIONAL AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE WINNERS  School Winners  Benjamin Franklin High School at Masonville Cove, Baltimore, MD  The Historic Samuel Coleridge-Taylor Elementary School, Baltimore, MD  John Hancock College Preparatory High School, Chicago, IL  Social Justice Humanitas, Los Angeles, CA  Wolfe Street Academy, Baltimore, MD  Initiative Winners  Family League of Baltimore  United Way of Salt Lake 36 Read about the Award winners:

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THE CRUCIAL ROLE OF SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS  You are leaders in your education systems and help set and maintain priorities  For community schools, you can:  Help start the conversation  Set the vision  Engage families and communities  Approve policies directly or indirectly supporting community schools 38

 Setting Direction  Vision statement of goals for youth outcomes  Statement defining community schools and core components  Establishing Structure  Policies that encourage collaboration, effective service delivery and joint use of facilities  Providing Support  Appoint a board representative to participate on planning/oversight teams and publicly recognize school accomplishments HOW THE SCHOOL BOARD CAN SUPPORT COMMUNITY SCHOOLS 39

 Ensuring Accountability  Adopt a broader accountability framework that captures the impact of community schools  Select indicators and regularly evaluate progress  Acting as Community Leaders  Help identify and initiate community partnerships  Share results with students, parents, and the community HOW THE SCHOOL BOARD CAN SUPPORT COMMUNITY SCHOOLS 40

THANK YOU! Mary Kingston Roche Dr. Analee Maestas 41