General Community School Resources

The purpose of this resource page is to provide general information on topics related to community schools.  For information and resources related to the fiscal year (FY) 2023 Full Service Community Schools (FSCS) Grant Competition, please visit the FY 2023 FSCS Program Application Information and Competition page.

DISCLAIMER: The pages and documents posted on this site include links to information created by other public and private organizations. These links are provided for the user’s convenience. The US Department of Education (ED) does not control or guarantee the accuracy, relevance, timeliness, or completeness of non-ED information. The inclusion of links is not intended to reflect their importance, nor is it intended to endorse views expressed, or products or services offered, on these non-ED sites.

PART I: Community Schools Learning Series

The Department values a comprehensive, whole child strategy as a promising method for addressing the impacts of the pandemic on schools and students and reimagining public schools to better serve all students.  As part of our commitment to improving outcomes for all students, we have partnered with several organizations to develop a learning series that explores the development and implementation of community schools.

• Community Schools – An Evidence Based Whole Child Approach to Education: Community Schools – An Evidence Based Whole Child Approach to Education – YouTube
• Pursuing the Full-Service Community Schools Federal Grant to Braid, Blend, and Sustain Funding for Community Schools: Pursuing the Full-Service Community Schools Federal Grant and Other Funding to Braid, Blend, and … – YouTube
• Launching a Community School: Launching a Community School – YouTube
• Effectively Using Data for Continuous Improvement of Community Schools: Effectively Using Data for Continuous Improvement of Community Schools – YouTube
• Implementing High Quality Community Schools: Implementing High Quality Community Schools – YouTube

PART II: Community Schools – General Information

• What is a Community School? (2019)
  The Partnership for the Future of Learning
  Video description of the community school approach
• Community Schools Playbook (2018)
  The Partnership for the Future of Learning
  Guide on advancing community schools’ strategies

PART III: Community Schools- Logic Models

• Full-Service Community Schools Technical Assistance: Logic Models The FSCS Team delivered and recorded a technical assistance webinar on logic models for the FY 2022 FSCS grantees on March 23, 2023. Slides and the transcript are also available.
• Theory of Action for Community School Transformation This tool explains the activities grantees can take and the expected outcomes from those activities as they implement essential elements of community schools. This logic model also describes key structures that support schools to grow and sustain community schools.

Part IV: FSCS Program Data Collection and Reporting Guidance

• Data Collection and Reporting Guidance for the Full-Service Community School Program – This guidance document provides reporting directions with indicator definitions, related research, performance measures, and examples for FSCS grantees for fiscal years 2022 and beyond. This document was cleared by the Office of Management and Budget [OMB#1810-0779] on 12/26/23 and expires 12/31/26.
• FSCS Data and Reporting Guidance FAQ Companion – This supplemental guide answers common questions from grantees regarding the FSCS Data Collection and Reporting Guidance.

Part V: Community Schools- Research, Strategies & Practices

The following LINK offers resources that highlight research, strategies, and practices as it relates to the development, implementation, and sustainability of community schools.

PART VI: Community Schools – Other Resources & Links

• Center for Universal Education at Brookings– The Brookings Institution is a nonprofit public policy organization that conducts in-depth research that leads to new ideas for solving problems facing society at the local, national and global level. Brookings has published several community school resources, including webinars, briefs, policy recommendations, and blogs.
• Child Trends – Child trends uses applied research to inform public policies and build an evidence base for what works for underserved children and youth. Their work on community schools has looked at district strategies for implementation, how community schools serve children and families in poverty, and approaches for funding.
• The Children’s Aid Society – The Children’s Aid Society helps children in poverty to succeed and thrive. This is done by providing comprehensive supports to children, youth, and their families in targeted high-needs New York City neighborhoods.
• Coalition for Community Schools – The Coalition is dedicated to advancing this mission through a shared set of principles: to build on community strengths, invest in trusting relationships, and a commitment to continuous improvement. The Institute for Educational Leadership (IEL) is the home of the Coalition for Community Schools, acting as the intermediary between the Coalition’s national intermediaries and place-based networks.
• Community Schools Forward – Community Schools Forward is a collaborative project led by national partners and community school experts—including practitioners, researchers, and policymakers. This project has created a framework, theory of action, implementation and evaluation guide, costing tool, and stages of development tool to improve alignment of community school concepts, promote high-quality implementation, and scale this strategy via sustainable investment structures.
• The Learning Policy Institute (LPI)– LPI conducts and communicates independent, high-quality research to improve education policy and practice, including several reports, briefs, infographics, blogs, and other resources focused on community schools. LPI’s work seeks to advance evidence-based policies that support empowering and equitable learning for each and every child.
• National Center for Community Schools (NCCS)– As a part of the Children’s Aid Society, NCCS’ mission is to transform education by partnering with schools, districts, community partners, government agencies, and other stakeholders to create and sustain community schools. NCCS does this by publishing technical assistance resources, providing strategic partnership, facilitating in-person professional development, and promoting equitable education policies.
• National Education Policy Center (NEPC)– The mission of NEPC is to produce and disseminate high-quality, peer-reviewed research to inform education policy discussions and strengthen the democratic governance of public education. NEPC’s research includes a policy brief, interviews, and several policy memos related to community schools.
• Partnership For the Future of Learning– The Partnership for the Future of Learning brings together a diverse network of individuals and organizations with a deep commitment to an equitable, high-quality, public education system. Their work on community schools includes a story map, playbook, and financing guide.
• Research for Action– Research for Action is a nonprofit education research organization that uses field-driven insights to advance equity in opportunities and outcomes for underserved students and their families along the early childhood to postsecondary education pipeline. Their research includes a report on the implementation and impact of community schools, and a toolkit on indicators of community school success.

PART VII: Community Schools – Other Federal Resources & Links

• Comprehensive Center Network (CCNETWORK) – The CCNETWORK comprises the National Comprehensive Center and 19 Regional Comprehensive Centers. The centers were funded by the US Department of Education to provide capacity-building services to state educational agencies regional educational agencies, local educational agencies, and schools that improve educational outcomes for all students, close achievement gaps, and improve the quality of instruction.
• Regional Educational Laboratory (REL) Program – The ten RELs partner with educators and policymakers nationwide. RELs collaborate with school districts, state departments of education, and other education stakeholders to help generate and apply evidence, with the goal of improving learner outcomes. RELs contribute to the growing body of research on how experiences within the nation’s education system differ by context and student group, thereby impacting outcomes and identifying potential solutions.
• U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS)- Administration for Children and Families (ACYF) – ACYF oversees major federal programs that support: (1) social services that promote the growth and development of children, youth and their families, (2) protective services and shelter for children and youth in at-risk situations and, (3) adoption for children with special needs. These programs provide financial assistance to states, community-based organizations, and academic institutions to provide services, carry out research and demonstration activities, and manage training, technical assistance, and information dissemination.
• U.S. Department of Health & Human Services – School-Based Health Centers – Health Resources and Service Administration (HRSA) oversees the school-based health center program, which funds partnerships between the school and community health organizations, such as a community health center, hospital, or local health department. The specific services provided by school-based health centers vary based on community needs and resources as determined through collaborations between the community, the school district and the health care providers.
• White House Toolkit on Federal Resources to Support Community Schools – This toolkit, released by the White House in 2023, provides an overview of federal funding sources that maybe used to support community schools. Each funding source includes information about how it can support community school activities and additional information for interested grantees. It also highlights other Department of Education and non-governmental resources to support community school financing and implementation.