Community Schools
The community schools strategy transforms a school into a place where educators, local community members, families, and students work together to strengthen conditions for student learning and healthy development. As partners, they organize in- and out-of-school resources, supports, and opportunities so that young people thrive. The school community, led by the principal and community school coordinator/manager, works to develop a vision and goals for the school, student and family well-being, and student learning. When educators, families, students, and community partners share responsibility for developing the resources that address the unique needs of their schools and communities, they create conditions for working together that enable them to make transformative changes. These conditions include building strong, trusting relationships, engaging in inclusive decision-making, and creating a thriving community. It is in this environment that schools are able to generate optimal, 鈥渨hole child鈥 conditions for student learning and development. This is accomplished through the integrated implementation of the key practices: powerful student and family engagement; collaborative leadership and shared power and voice; expanded and enriched learning opportunities; rigorous, community-connected classroom instruction; and a culture of belonging, safety, and care. (, 2023)
The responsibilities of the TACs include statewide dissemination of information on effective and promising practices in the establishment and ongoing management of Community School strategies through professional development and technical assistance activities designed to:
- Familiarize school personnel across New York State with Community School strategies;
- Increase the knowledge and skills of school personnel and community partners to aid in the implementation, management, and sustainability of Community Schools;
- Promote the establishment and development of Community Schools that incorporate the characteristics of Community Schools strategies listed above: a rigorous academic program with strong supports, a full range of school-based and school-linked programs and services, and partnerships that demonstrate collaboration with the local community;
- Provide school districts with the tools necessary to design and implement needs/resource assessments that will provide the data necessary to effectively target Community School resources;
- Increase statewide capacity to support effective Community School strategies; and
- Identify and evaluate the school districts鈥 needs within a region in order to provide tailored technical assistance and professional development.
The New York City Community Schools TAC at Fordham University
Serving Bronx, Kings, New York, Queens, and Richmond Counties
Phone: (212) 636-6100
Email: cstac@fordham.edu
The Eastern New York TAC at Fordham University
Serving Albany, Clinton, Columbia, Dutchess, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Greene, Hamilton, Montgomery, Nassau, Orange, Putnam, Rensselaer, Rockland, Saint Lawrence, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, Suffolk, Sullivan, Ulster, Warren, Washington, and Westchester Counties
Phone: (212) 636-6526
Email: easterncstac@fordham.edu
The Central/Western New York TAC at the Research Foundation for the State University of New York at Binghamton University
Serving Allegany, Broome, Cattaraugus, Cayuga, Chautauqua, Chemung, Chenango, Cortland, Delaware, Erie, Genesee, Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis, Livingston, Madison, Monroe, Niagara, Oneida, Onondaga, Ontario, Orleans, Oswego, Otsego, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, Tioga, Tompkins, Wayne, Wyoming, and Yates Counties
Phone: (607) 777-9284
贰尘补颈濒:听cstac@binghamton.edu
Community Schools Technical Assistance Centers Annual Impact
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