Community/School Community/School PartnershipsPartnerships

Drawing upon the resources Drawing upon the resources of the entire community in of the entire community in meeting the academic & meeting the academic & youth development needs of youth development needs of our childrenour children

Community/School Community/School PartnershipsPartnerships

Grassroots “school reform”Grassroots “school reform” School viewed as focus of the School viewed as focus of the

communitycommunity Community viewed as vital support Community viewed as vital support

in the success of studentsin the success of students Collaboration is keyCollaboration is key

• Identify resources in the communityIdentify resources in the community• Identify student/family needsIdentify student/family needs

Invite Stakeholders to the Invite Stakeholders to the TableTable

Community/school committees or Community/school committees or initially a taskforceinitially a taskforce• Parents, interested community membersParents, interested community members• Service providers (youth & family)Service providers (youth & family)• Government, business, faith-based reps.Government, business, faith-based reps.• Students, teachers, school staff, alumniStudents, teachers, school staff, alumni• Anyone with an interest in improving Anyone with an interest in improving

education and lives of children and education and lives of children and familiesfamilies

CollaborationCollaboration

Set aside “turf” issues -- define your Set aside “turf” issues -- define your missionmission• This is for the childrenThis is for the children• This is about improving academic This is about improving academic

achievementachievement• This is about positive youth This is about positive youth

developmentdevelopment• This is about community economic This is about community economic

developmentdevelopment

IssuesIssues

Don’t be afraid to confront Don’t be afraid to confront challenges -- that’s the point: reduce challenges -- that’s the point: reduce barriers to academic achievement & barriers to academic achievement & positive youth developmentpositive youth development

Identify challengesIdentify challenges Brainstorm ideas to address themBrainstorm ideas to address them Together you can accomplish things Together you can accomplish things

you can’t do aloneyou can’t do alone

What Do We Know We What Do We Know We Get?Get?

Needed services for children & familiesNeeded services for children & families Programs providing positive youth Programs providing positive youth

development opportunitiesdevelopment opportunities Increased parent, community Increased parent, community

involvementinvolvement Increased school attendanceIncreased school attendance Decreased suspensions, expulsions, Decreased suspensions, expulsions,

behavior problemsbehavior problems

What Else Do We Get?What Else Do We Get?

Teachers feel better supported so that Teachers feel better supported so that they can teachthey can teach

Parents & community leaders feel good Parents & community leaders feel good about the school in the neighborhoodabout the school in the neighborhood

Students see that schools really do careStudents see that schools really do care Communities see education in better Communities see education in better

light & college becomes part of their light & college becomes part of their vocabularyvocabulary

Funders more positive about supportFunders more positive about support

WWASHINGTON ASHINGTON CCOMMUNITY OMMUNITY

SSCHOOLCHOOL Serving students and their families Serving students and their families

through community partnershipsthrough community partnerships

WWASHINGTON ASHINGTON CCOMMUNITY OMMUNITY

SSCHOOLCHOOL

Community school -- community partnersCommunity school -- community partners• School as focus of the neighborhoodSchool as focus of the neighborhood• Westside community deeply committed to Westside community deeply committed to

education & youth developmenteducation & youth development• Westside Education Task Force, WINC, WESCOWestside Education Task Force, WINC, WESCO• Meet monthly as Community CommitteeMeet monthly as Community Committee• Washington HS Alumni AssociationWashington HS Alumni Association• IUPUI & 3 Community Centers within 1 mileIUPUI & 3 Community Centers within 1 mile• 34 partners provide $4.2 million in services34 partners provide $4.2 million in services

WWASHINGTON ASHINGTON CCOMMUNITY OMMUNITY

SSCHOOLCHOOL

Educational support activitiesEducational support activities• Alternative to Suspension -- Mary RiggAlternative to Suspension -- Mary Rigg• Tutoring & Homework Assistance -- Tutoring & Homework Assistance --

Lilly, IPL, Mary Rigg, Hawthorne, Lilly, IPL, Mary Rigg, Hawthorne, Christamore House, IUPUIChristamore House, IUPUI

• After-School Program -- Hawthorne Center, After-School Program -- Hawthorne Center, Indy Parks & Recreation, Young AudiencesIndy Parks & Recreation, Young Audiences

• Swimming -- Partnering with Indy ParksSwimming -- Partnering with Indy Parks• Life’s Transitions Inc. -- 21st Century Life’s Transitions Inc. -- 21st Century

Scholars Scholars (91% signed up (91% signed up last year)last year)

WWASHINGTON ASHINGTON CCOMMUNITY OMMUNITY

SSCHOOLCHOOL

More educational support activitiesMore educational support activities• Computers for Kids -- achievement Computers for Kids -- achievement

incentives, after-school activityincentives, after-school activity• Teen Health Clinic -- HealthNet nurse Teen Health Clinic -- HealthNet nurse

practitioners funded by Lillypractitioners funded by Lilly• Peace Initiative -- Mary Rigg/AmeriCorpsPeace Initiative -- Mary Rigg/AmeriCorps• West Indy Teens -- Friday night middle West Indy Teens -- Friday night middle

school community service-based club at school community service-based club at Mary RiggMary Rigg

• Dental Services -- Dr. Jeffrey JordanDental Services -- Dr. Jeffrey Jordan

WWASHINGTONASHINGTON

Additional supportAdditional support• Even Start, GED, ESL ClassesEven Start, GED, ESL Classes• IUPUI College Prep Initiative & America IUPUI College Prep Initiative & America

ReadsReads• Hispanic Social Service Club for ParentsHispanic Social Service Club for Parents• Midtown Community Mental HealthMidtown Community Mental Health• IPS Gang Prevention/Community PolicingIPS Gang Prevention/Community Policing• Lilly Clothe a ChildLilly Clothe a Child• National Starch Westside Science ProgramNational Starch Westside Science Program

WWASHINGTON ASHINGTON

CCOMMUNITY OMMUNITY

SSCHOOLCHOOL• No Excuses SchoolNo Excuses School• Parent CenterParent Center• Family Nights Family Nights (265 show up for Bingo)(265 show up for Bingo)• Community RoomCommunity Room• Full-time Community School Full-time Community School

CoordinatorCoordinator• The model IPS Bridges to Success The model IPS Bridges to Success

schoolschool

WWASHINGTON ASHINGTON CCOMMUNITY OMMUNITY

SSCHOOLCHOOL

Does this really enhance Does this really enhance achievement?achievement? Number of students in 6th grade meeting state Number of students in 6th grade meeting state

standard in language arts increased from 15% standard in language arts increased from 15% to 25%, in math the number rose from 26% to to 25%, in math the number rose from 26% to 44%, and the number of students passing both 44%, and the number of students passing both increased from 11% to 21%increased from 11% to 21%

Number of students in 8th grade meeting state Number of students in 8th grade meeting state standard in language arts increased from 27% standard in language arts increased from 27% to 33%, in math the number rose from 12% to to 33%, in math the number rose from 12% to 42%, and the number of students passing both 42%, and the number of students passing both increased from 9% to 24%increased from 9% to 24%

WWASHINGTON ASHINGTON CCOMMUNITY OMMUNITY

SSCHOOLCHOOL

Future family-focused programsFuture family-focused programs• Computer building for familiesComputer building for families• Family computer nightsFamily computer nights

– navigating the Internetnavigating the Internet– basic word processingbasic word processing

• Bicycle repair projectBicycle repair project• Cultural enrichment Cultural enrichment • Health/wellness, nutrition educationHealth/wellness, nutrition education• Line dancing, arts & crafts, job skills, etc.Line dancing, arts & crafts, job skills, etc.

WWASHINGTONASHINGTON CCOMMUNITYOMMUNITY

SSCHOOLCHOOL

6th through 12th grade growth6th through 12th grade growth• Smaller, personal learning environmentsSmaller, personal learning environments• Increase academic success, more graduatesIncrease academic success, more graduates• Deeper H.S. parent/community engagementDeeper H.S. parent/community engagement

Year-round/alternative schedule interestYear-round/alternative schedule interest• Align with feeder elementary schoolsAlign with feeder elementary schools• Academic & youth development enrichment Academic & youth development enrichment

during breaks during breaks (partners already committed )(partners already committed )

WWASHINGTONASHINGTON CCOMMUNITYOMMUNITY

SSCHOOLCHOOL

Literacy is criticalLiteracy is critical• Build all programs around literacy Build all programs around literacy

effortsefforts• Meet state & national standardsMeet state & national standards

Support our children & families, Support our children & families, building strong communitiesbuilding strong communities