Community schools are beneficial to young students growing up, and more cities need them. By bringing together students, parents, educators, and community members, these schools create a sense of community that helps nurture the academic and personal growth of students. Here are just a few of the benefits that community schools offer.
What are Community Schools?
Community Schools are an essential part of the education system. They provide students with a safe and supportive environment to learn and grow. Many community schools are considered second homes to families because of the constant support they provide students of all backgrounds and ages.
Community Schools are located in communities where there is a significant need for educational resources. They offer various services to meet their community’s needs, including after-school programs, tutoring, food drives, parent and teacher events, baking programs, movie nights, mentoring, and more.
Community Schools build bridges between the school and the community by involving community members in the planning and decision-making. People in the community usually have more say in what happens in the school, and the schools typically receive more funding from outside groups wanting to support the students.
These systems ensure that the school is responsive to the community’s needs and that community members are vested in the school’s success. As a result, community Schools are an essential partner in ensuring that all students have access to quality education.
What are the Benefits of Community Schools?
Community schools are important because they focus not only on just the needs of their students but overall members of their communities. They work to create partnerships between the school, parents, and community organizations to provide a wide range of services that support academic achievement.
They create weekly events that everyone can participate in and support causes like mental health, depression, isolation, and more. “common sense tells us that students can’t focus inside the classroom if their basic needs aren’t met outside the classroom. That’s the premise of community schools.” According to NEA President Lily Eskelsen.
Community schools can also include services that include after-school programs, health and dental clinics, early childhood education, and adult education classes. Community schools also provide community members with a space to come together for recreational activities, cultural events, and other community gatherings that focus on bringing safety but also an achievement for the community.
Students call community schools a “home away from home” because they genuinely feel like they have a second home. They can bring their problems to school while their family is at work. They don’t have to worry about being bullied or criticized because this is a safe place for everyone.
If there are any issues, they will deal with them together as a community. No problem is left for home or vice versa since the parents are involved, and people love these environments so much.
“When public schools become community hubs – offering services and programs beyond the school day, creating strong learning cultures and supportive environments for students and educators- student outcomes improve.” According to the Annenberg Institute for School Reform researchers.
California giving community schools 3$ billion in grants will help many communities feel like they have a second home they can go to.
How Can Public Schools Build a Similar Environment?
Community schools are unique in that they wrap around the needs of the community they serve. They provide not only academics but also health and social services, after school programs, and community engagement opportunities in a central hub. This holistic approach allows community schools to meet every child’s needs, resulting in improved academic outcomes.
So how can public schools build a similar environment to community schools? The answer lies in community partnerships. By partnering with local organizations, public schools can provide wraparound services and community engagement opportunities that community schools are known for.
But this won’t be an easy endeavor; even community schools struggle with receiving grants and funding to create easy-to-access programs. However, public schools can create custom events and work with other organizations to provide safe spaces for custom programs.
More schools aim to support their community and not just their children’s needs, which will affect the community favorably.
How Difficult is it to Manage Community Schools?
Community schools often provide wraparound services, such as health and mental health care, nutrition programs, and after-school and summer enrichment activities. These services can be expensive, and community schools may rely heavily on grants and donations to cover the costs. In addition, community schools typically have a more significant proportion of students from low-income families, which can present challenges in terms of funding and resources.
Community schools also need to have enough staff on-hand to service not only their own staff needs but their students, board members, parents, and guests. It’s never easy to service a whole community; however, because community schools do many things for the community, they benefit from other schools and organizations. Government officials can also work to give them support through grants or fundraising programs.
Despite these challenges, community schools can be highly effective in meeting the needs of their students and communities. When managed effectively, community schools can provide a well-rounded education that helps students succeed academically and socially. In addition, community schools can play an important role in community redevelopment efforts by providing much-needed services and revitalizing struggling neighborhoods. Ultimately, community schools offer an invaluable resource to students and communities, even if they are challenging to manage.
Student Hires Programs
Student Hires is a community-based organization that provides hands-on experiential learning programs for K-12 students. Our programs are led by college students who work closely with youth to provide them with the skills and knowledge they need to be successful in the workforce. Our programs are designed to increase the career readiness of disadvantaged youth, and we are committed to providing quality services that meet the needs of our community.
Our goal is to provide community schools with the resources they need to provide their students with the best possible education and prepare them for the workforce. We believe that all students deserve an opportunity to succeed, and we are committed to providing the resources and support they need to reach their full potential.
Conclusion
Community schools provide a sense of community and belonging often missing from traditional public schools. Students who attend community schools feel like they are a part of something larger than themselves, leading to increased academic achievement and social-emotional development.
If you’re looking for a school that will provide your child with a strong sense of community and support, consider enrolling them in a community school. How many community schools are in your area? Let us know in the comments!