District Newsletter: Community Schools Results and Impact

Community schools programs transform school buildings into community hubs that address the full range of student and family needs. When a district communicates the outcomes of these programs clearly, it makes the case for continued investment and connects families to resources they may not know are available.

What a Community School Is

A community school extends the school day and school year, co-locates community services inside the school building, and builds strong family and community partnerships. The community schools model is based on research showing that students' academic outcomes are deeply connected to their health, safety, family stability, and social-emotional wellbeing. Schools cannot address academic outcomes while ignoring everything else.

Services Available at Our Community Schools

Our community schools currently offer: [list specific services: after-school programs, dental and vision screenings on site, mental health counseling through community partners, food pantry accessible to families, English language classes for adults, job training referrals through workforce development partners, community meeting space for family and neighborhood organizations].

Which Schools Are Community Schools

The district currently has [number] community schools: [list school names]. These schools were selected based on [criteria: poverty concentration, chronic absence rates, community need assessment]. The district plans to expand the community schools model to [additional schools] by [year] pending [funding source].

Outcome Data

Students attending community schools show [specific outcomes compared to non-community schools in the district: lower chronic absenteeism rates, higher third-grade reading proficiency, higher staff retention, higher family engagement survey scores]. The community schools at [school name] have reduced chronic absenteeism by [percentage] over three years. Families at [school name] report [survey result] on the annual family engagement survey.

A Sample Community Schools Newsletter Excerpt

"Our community schools programs are producing results. Chronic absenteeism is down. Family engagement is up. Students at these schools have access to dental screenings, mental health counseling, and after-school programming, all inside the school building. Here is what the data shows and which families can access these services."

How Families Can Access Services

Families whose students attend a community school can access services by contacting the community school coordinator at [name and contact information]. Many services do not require referrals. Walk-in hours for the food pantry are [hours]. After-school program registration is open at [URL].

How to Support the Community Schools Model

Community members can support community schools by [volunteering in after-school programs, donating to the food pantry, attending community events hosted at the school]. Daystage newsletters link families to the service schedule and the community school coordinator contact so they can access support or get involved immediately.