The Palaver Tree is the center of the community in some African Villages, where members come together to connect with one another and find solutions. Community Schools can be our Palaver Tree.
Community schools are institutions at the center of a neighborhood that educate students for college and careers but also strengthen the entire community through hosting a range of programs inside the school building. For example:
• The school is open in the afternoon, on weekends and during the summer to offer programs in arts, sports, college and career preparation, tutoring and more
• Medical, dental and mental health services are available at the school for children, families and the whole neighborhood
• Adult education, ESL classes and job training are offered for parents and community
• Family support centers train parents to be community leaders and also provide crisis assistance, child care and housing assistance
Community Schools Work
• National studies have found that strong community schools have higher graduation rates and lower dropout rates; higher student attendance; higher reading and math scores; improved school climate, including teacher morale and student behavior; greater parent engagement; and lower rates of neighborhood crime and violence.
• When Cincinnati, Ohio converted all their schools into community schools, the graduation rate rose from 51% to 82%, and the racial achievement gap dropped enormously. Cincinnati is now the highest-rated urban school district in Ohio.
Get Ready for NYC Community Schools!
For too long, the education conversation in NYC has been consumed by a debate over schools that serve a small handful of NYC students. It's time to demand schools that reach the other 1 million students: community schools.
For more information on Community Schools, check out the NYC Coalition for Educational Justice.
