Corning Union Elementary School District

Community Schools

A community school is any school serving pre-kindergarten through high school using a “whole child” approach, with an emphasis on academics, health and social services, youth and community development, and community engagement. As a school improvement strategy, community school initiatives enable the local educational agency (LEA) and school to work closely with educators, students, and families to understand and address the unique needs, assets, and aspirations of the school community.

Every student should have access to schools with the resources, opportunities, and supports that make academic success possible and that create strong ties among families, students, schools, and communities. Doing so will provide more equitable opportunities and prepare students for success in life and as citizens. That’s what community schools offer.

Four Pillars of Community Schools

Integrated Student Supports can support student success by meeting their academic, physical, social-emotional, and mental health needs. Statute defines this as including the “coordination of trauma-informed health, mental health, and social services.” Effectively supporting students also requires that students be well-known so that they can be well-served.

Family and Community Engagement involves actively tapping the expertise and knowledge of family and community members to serve as true partners in supporting and educating students. Statute defines this as including “home visits, home-school collaboration, [and] culturally responsive community partnerships.” Learning opportunities for family members, as well as structures and opportunities for shared leadership, are other important elements of authentic family engagement.

Collaborative leadership & practices for educators and administrators establish a culture of professional learning, collective trust, and shared responsibility for outcomes, involving students, families, and community members. Statute defines this as including “professional development to transform school culture and climate that centers on pupil learning and supports mental and behavioral health, trauma-informed care, Social Emotional Learning [and] restorative justice.”

Expanded Learning Time includes academic support, enrichment, and real-world learning opportunities (e.g., internships, project-based learning). The statute refers to these opportunities as both “extended learning” and “expanded learning” and defines them as including “before and after school care and summer programs.” Expanded learning opportunities can also include tutoring and other learning supports during school hours.