Our Approach
Positioning schools as trusted hubs for students and families.
Full-Service Community Schools
A Community School brings together families, educators and community partners to remove barriers, expand partnerships and work to support every child’s well-being.
What makes our model unique is a deeper customization of this evidence-based approached, combined with the flexibility to reflect each community’s unique strengths and needs. This ensures that every school we serve is positioned for long-term sustainability and success.
What is a North Carolina Community School?
When a school first joins our coalition, they are supported in four major ways. These are core to our model and its impact.
These features set the foundation for our uniquely designed Community Schools Framework, creating the conditions for schools and communities to thrive together.
Our Framework
For a closer look at how our model works in practice, the following graphic outlines the core elements of our approach.
Success Stories
For more information on what this looks like in practice, check out:
- Q&A with the Community School Coordinator at Northeastern High in Elizabeth City–Pasquotank Public Schools
- How our regional partner, United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County, mobilized their community schools to meet needs after Hurricane Helene.
Measures of Success
To understand the impact of the coalition, we will look at a variety of factors. Along with continuous feedback from communities to drive improvement in our work, measures of success may include:
- Academic achievement measured by metrics like school attendance and graduation rates
- School climate metrics such as measures of family and community engagement, educator qualifications, and retention of school staff
- Health and social support measures like access to mental health support, housing stability, and food security
We will use data intentionally and be transparent, sharing them with the children, families, and communities that they represent to inform ongoing improvement.
How We Share Information
Sharing knowledge and best practices widely is important to the long-term progress of this work and related efforts nationwide. The coalition posts resources and information publicly so others can learn from its experiences.