Community Schools

The community school model uses schools as the hub and fosters partnerships between educators, families, and community services to expand learning opportunities to students before and after the school day and to offer health and social support to families. Services may include academic support (such as tutoring and mentoring), social services (such as case management and employment assistance), extracurricular activities, afterschool care, and medical and dental services.

The community school model increases student access to learning opportunities and resources both in and outside of school. Community schools can address several social determinants of health (SDOH), including:

• Improving access to healthcare through onsite health services
• Increasing economic stability and access to jobs
• Supporting educational attainment through family literacy programs
• Connecting families with social services
• Improving food access through food banks

There are several types of community school models being implemented in rural communities. In every model, the school serves as the center of the community, and the school building opens its doors to community members for daily use. For example, Communities in Schools has developed a model that uses coordinators in schools to bring community resources directly into the school. This approach can help reduce barriers for families to keep students in school and improve academic achievement. This model also works to connect schools with partner organizations to provide additional resources to children and families.

Examples of Rural Community Schools Addressing SDOH

• Owsley County Elementary School in Booneville, Kentucky serves as a hub for Owsley County events, even serving as the site for weddings, other community celebrations, and performances. The school works with the community to educate and support children and their families. The school administers innovative literacy programs and provides students with technology to help improve academic performance. The school also operates a family resource center, provides health services, and connects parents with classes to complete their GED and higher education courses.
• Molly Stark Elementary School in Bennington, Vermont is a community school that provides many services to children and their families, including basic health services. A school nurse helps deliver vaccinations and other preventive health interventions. The school runs a daycare center and preschool and offers child care and transportation services during GED classes for parents in the evenings. The school also promotes family literacy and adult education by offering community college courses.

Implementation Considerations

Community schools provide a variety of services to students and their families. These services require additional funding, training, staff, and buy-in from community members, parents, and school officials. Another challenge for implementing this model is local school board approval, which is generally required for programs operated in public school buildings. Local school boards may not always be in favor of delivering such robust services at schools and may be more focused on preparing students academically.