By Patricia Weinzapfel
In March, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of
Innovation and Improvement brought together its Full Service Community Schools (FSCS)
and Promise Neighborhood grantees at the Promise Neighborhoods National Network
Conference.
Department officials said the two programs were convened at
the same conference for a number of reasons such as coordinating and pooling department
resources. They also said much of the work of the FSCS grantees is the same as
the work of the Promise Neighborhoods grant recipients. Both put strong schools
at the center of efforts to improve the well being and long term success of
children and families and both take a “whole child,” cradle to career approach
to revitalizing communities. Many of the Promise Neighborhood proposals specifically
include resources to support community schools.
The conference was held in Washington D.C. There were more
than 300 participants, including 37 individuals representing most of the FSCS
grant recipients. Sessions centered on community and family engagement, financing
and sustainability, and building effective collaboration and partnerships. FSCS
grantees joined Promise Neighborhoods planning and implementation grant
recipients at these sessions. FSCS grantees also took part in two sessions
especially designed for them. One of the sessions offered FSCS grantees a
chance to talk about their successes and challenges, to network and swap ideas,
and to think collaboratively about how to sustain the work as some grants are
entering their final year.
The conference concluded with a presentation by Harlem
Children’s Zone President and Chief Executive Officer Geoffrey Canada who spoke
about the importance of community building through educational opportunities.
Harlem Children’s Zone is considered a model for the Promise Neighborhoods
initiative.
Patricia Weinzapfel,
Director of Community Schools, Center for Family, School and Community Partnerships,
Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation
I'm looking for the mention of using an active focus on time into the future as a major building block in the creation of a school community, a neighborhood. In 2005 we created a 10-year "time capsule" project in our middle school that appears to have been a contributing factor in the doubling of our graduation rate from 33% to 66%. Our parents write letters to their children about their dreams for the them, and students write letters to themselves in response focusing 10 years into the future. These priceless documents are then placed into a 500 pound vault, on one of the 10 shelves inside where they stay until the class 10-year reunion. At that reunion current students know they will be asked to speak with then current students about their recommendations for success. This more physical focus on the future appears to have priceless results relative to student motivation. See www.studentmotivation.org and blog. You may want to add this very inexpensive project to your collection of actions you recommend to secondary schools.
ReplyDeleteExciting to witness the collaborative spirit and innovation showcased at the Full Service Community Schools session during the Promise Neighborhood Network Conference. Empowering communities through education and support is the key to a brighter future! #PromiseNeighborhood #CommunityEngagement
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