In this report, a one-year snapshot of New York City, the authors discuss strategies to reverse rates of early chronic absence in the early grades as well as strategies for improving supports for children and families. Per this report, more than 90,000 children, grades k-5 (20% of New York City's enrollment) have missed at least 1 month of school. The situation was worse in higher grades, where 40% of high school students and 24% of middle school students were absent for at least a month. The implication for these students' long-term success is enormous, but this is only part of the story. This report also describes how chronic absenteeism at an early age can result from challenges at home, and how strong partnerships between public schools, community organizations and other institutions can make a difference.
A key recommendation from this report is to identify 50-100 schools with high rates of chronic absenteeism in high-poverty districts, and establish executive-level partnerships with outside organizations to put solutions into action -- in short, implementing the community schools approach.
[PDF download]
As part of their Closing the Achievement Gap series, Annie E. Casey Foundation released: "Closing the Achievement Gap: School, Community, Family Connections." This publication argues that community schools can improve student learning, increase parent participation, give teachers more time to focus on instruction, and contribute to making schools and the community safer. It highlights stories about the Harlem Children's Zone Practitioners Institute, parent organizing in Texas and Denver, one California school district's innovative parent engagement policy, and the Foundation's contribution to results measurements in the field.
[PDF download]
A tool for schools hoping to build more effective and meaningful school-family-community partnerships. Helps schools assess their approaches and implement more effective activities. Includes forms to help schools and organizations write their own plans.
[PDF download]
This easy-to-use, reliable, web-based Tool gives partnerships an exciting new way to assess how well their collaborative process is working and to identify specific areas they can focus on to make the process work better.
http://www.cacsh.org/psat.html
Breaks new ground by helping educators and community leaders understand and respect the assets and talents that each brings to the goal of improving student learning. It presents several "sticking points" and identifies "rules of engagement" to facilitate better communication between school and community.
[PDF download]
This tool contains a series of checklists to assist schools and community leaders in creating and/or strengthening community school partnerships.
[PDF download]
This report is a Cluster Evaluation of lessons learned from the Community-University Partnerships Initiative, which brought together residents, agencies, local organizations, and higher education institutions at 10 sites.
[PDF download]
This is a guide designed for school officials and business leaders who are interested in engaging in school-business partnerships. It is the result of extensive research and personal interviews with individuals who have experience creating, implementing, and evaluating successful partnerships.
[PDF download]
The Business Perspective
For prospective business partners, offers a list of potential benefits and considerations. [PDF download]
The School Perspective
Potential benefits and considerations for schools engaging in business partnerships. [PDF download]
Key Factors
Outlines some of the most important factors in developing and maintaining successful collaborations. [PDF download]
Resource List
Recommended resources to assist SUN staff, schools, and business partners in strengthening partnerships. [PDF download]
School Worksheet
Designed to facilitate school development of strategic business partnerships. [PDF download]
Partnership Worksheet
Space for partner contact information; strengths, interests, & issues to consider; and project planning. [PDF download]
Project Worksheet
Geared toward developing and implementing specific school/business partnered projects. [PDF download]
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