West Virginia Code of State Rules › Agency 126 - Education › Title 126 - LEGISLATIVE RULE BOARD OF EDUCATION › Series 126-052 - Community Schools: Promoting Health, Safety, Well-Being and Academic Success of Students (2425) › Section 126-52-2 - Purpose - Community Schools Framework

Current through Register Vol. XLI, No. 28, July 12, 2024
2.1. A community school is any public school
				which services PreK-12 students that participate in a community-based effort to
				coordinate and integrate services through partnerships with community-based
				organizations. It is both a place and a set of partnerships between the school
				and other community resources. Its integrated focus on academics, health and
				social services, youth and community development and community engagement leads
				to improved student learning, stronger families and healthier communities.
				Schools become centers of the community and are open to everyone - all day,
				every day, evenings and weekends.
2.2. A community schools coordinator is the
				key to a community school. The local board of education should hire or identify
				a community school coordinator or work with a lead partner agency to identify
				or provide the coordinator. The coordinator works to create and strengthen the
				relationships between the school and community to develop a continuum of
				community-based and integrated services.
2.3. The framework of a fully developed
				community school concept is needs driven and strives to include the following:
				Engaging Instruction, Expanded Learning Opportunities, College, Career,
				Citizenship, Health and Social Support, Community Engagement, Early Childhood
				Development, Family Engagement and Youth Development Activities. All community
				schools services provided in the school setting should be regular, ongoing and
				evidence-based or promising practices.
2.3.a.
				Engaging Instruction: Community schools offer a personalized approach.
				Opportunities and supports within community schools are tailored to remove
				barriers that prevent a student from learning while also instilling the skills
				they will need for their health, safety, wellbeing and academic success.
				Community schools partner with community organizations such as local career and
				technical, community colleges, higher education institutions, healthcare
				including community mental and oral health, businesses and others.
2.3.b. Expanded Learning Opportunities:
				Community schools utilize innovative approaches which expand learning
				opportunities through community partnerships that may occur during academic
				breaks and before, during and after school.
2.3.c. College, Career and Citizenship:
				Partners and supports in community schools are carefully selected with the goal
				of developing students with the skills which will not only guide them through
				their post-secondary and professional career, but that will ultimately make
				them well-rounded and engaged citizens. Community schools partner with local
				career and technical, community colleges, higher education institutions, and
				others to prepare students; they provide students with engaging and meaningful
				instruction; and they create service-learning and other youth development
				opportunities that train students to be active citizens.
2.3.d. Health and Social Support: Community
				schools focus on health and social supports by utilizing existing professional
				support services in innovative ways and by bringing community health providers
				and agencies into schools. They offer families support on a consistent
				basis.
2.3.e. Community Engagement:
				Community schools are built on the community's strengths and focus on improving
				the well-being of the entire community. To make this happen, community school
				leaders must seek and act on community input. In thriving and sustainable
				community school initiatives, community stakeholders help develop the vision of
				a community school and oversee its implementation. Shared ownership with the
				community paves the way for joint accountability and success, and serves as a
				vehicle for advocacy on behalf of the community school. Community engagement is
				what separates community schools from wrap-around services.
2.3.f. Early Childhood Development: Community
				schools continue to demonstrate that they are an ideal setting for integrating
				high quality early learning and child development in PreK-12 systems. Community
				schools provide a seamless alignment of early learning and education to ensure
				the health, cognitive and social emotional needs of young children and their
				families are met.
2.3.g. Family
				Engagement: Community schools recognize that parent and family engagement is
				critical. Community schools consistently and sustainably increase parent
				participation in the education of their children and in their schools by
				empowering families providing them with a variety of integrated student and
				community supports. Community schools are the hub and cultural center of many
				neighborhoods. They offer families activities such as homework help,
				performances, art exhibits and more. All of this helps increase family
				engagement.
2.3.h. Youth
				Development Activities: Community schools provide opportunities and outlets for
				young people to explore their interests and grow into highly-skilled, creative
				and well-rounded adults. In a community school, community partners design all
				types of innovative, fun and educational activities for students - from
				gardening programs to mentoring and internships. Young people have such varied
				interests and inspiring creative skills.