By James Stoffer and Zach Vander Veen
Editor’s Note: This is the fifth and final installment of this series. For the previous installments, see one, two, three and four.
Community schools are not a new fad; they are a proven approach whose time has arrived. The model has been developing for more than three decades, steadily gaining traction across the United States. Today there are roughly 5,000 community schools—about four to five percent of U.S. public and private schools—yet their influence and the lessons they offer reach far beyond that number.
Earlier pieces in this series outlined the foundations and promise of community schools, how states like California are investing heavily in the model, the technology needed to operate them effectively, and the core components that make them work. In this final installment we distill the key lessons every school and district can take away from the community schools movement and explain how to apply them, whether or not your school becomes a formal community school.
At its heart, a community school is a hub—an organized, intentional center of learning, health, and family support that is woven into the life of the neighborhood it serves. As Sara Sneed, President of the NEA Foundation, explains, community schools build authentic partnerships between educators, families, students, and local organizations to deliver coordinated supports that improve outcomes for students and strengthen entire communities.
Despite recent growth and strong state commitments—California’s multiyear $3 billion transition to community schools being a notable example—the majority of schools will not convert to a full community school model in the near term. That’s not a drawback: many of the most valuable lessons from community schools can be adopted incrementally. Schools that embrace these lessons can deepen family engagement, expand student supports, and better align community resources to improve learning and wellbeing.
Connectivity is the central lesson. Community schools intentionally map and connect local assets—health services, social supports, nonprofits, businesses, faith groups, and family networks—to the school’s academic mission. This connectivity is no longer aspirational. Today’s technology ecosystems make it feasible to coordinate schedules, referrals, volunteer efforts, program enrollment, and impact data across multiple partners, creating a seamless experience for families and students.
The pandemic underscored why this matters. When routines and supports disappeared, many students fell into emotional distress and academic progress stalled. Community schools show how restoring connections—between school and family, academic and social-emotional supports—can stabilize students and accelerate recovery. The updated aphorism might be: it takes a connected village to raise the whole child.
To make connectivity operational, school leaders should ask practical questions that drive decisions and resource allocation:
- Which partners or programs are performing best? Track sign-ups, engagement, and retention to identify successful offerings and scale what works.
- Where do we need more partners? Cross-check your partnerships against annual priorities—such as social-emotional learning or mental health—to ensure adequate coverage.
- How can partners boost student success? Use student participation data to identify drivers of engagement and to remove barriers to access.
- How do we increase family engagement? Family involvement correlates with stronger student outcomes; plan opportunities that meet families where they are.
- Which programs lead to higher student success? Link community program involvement to student achievement and outcomes so resources can be invested where they make the biggest difference.
These questions underscore a shift in perspective: student success is a shared responsibility. As a Policy Brief from Policy Analysis for California Education notes, community schools operate on a model of shared accountability—students, educators, families, and partners working in concert to offer ambitious instruction within a student-centered climate and a whole-child design. Expanding learning opportunities beyond the school day—academic support, enrichment, and wraparound services—frees teachers to focus on instruction while ensuring students receive the supports they need.
Similarly, the California Teachers Association highlights the model’s focus on disrupting poverty and addressing longstanding inequities by leveraging community resources for academics, health, leadership, and engagement. Because community schools are grounded in local needs, each one looks different, but they all prioritize partnership and a reimagined approach to delivering supports to students and families.
States that are committing to community schools—California, Indiana, and others—are not only working to close learning gaps but also to repair the wellbeing of students and educators after the stresses of the pandemic. Yet the broader message is inclusive: even schools that do not adopt the full community school model can borrow its best practices—connectivity, partnership, data-informed decision making, and a whole-child focus—to produce healthier, more productive learners.
Take advantage of the momentum and the tools now available. Use technology to coordinate partners, measure impact, and streamline access to services. Build partnerships based on local needs and measurable goals. Start small where necessary, and scale effective programs over time. The payoff will be tangible—students better supported academically and emotionally, families more engaged, and teachers able to concentrate on instruction.
Read the earlier installments in this series for more detail and practical guidance. Do what you can now: your students, teachers, and families will thank you. Most importantly, you’ll help create healthier, happier, and more successful learners—exactly the reason schools exist.
About the authors
James Stoffer is CEO of Abre.io, where he leads company growth, operations, and talent strategy. He has spent his career in education, including leadership roles at DreamBox Learning, Hobsons, and MasteryConnect. James focuses on scaling social-impact companies that improve outcomes for students and educators. He holds an MBA from Xavier University and a BS in Marketing from Clemson University.
Zach Vander Veen has worked as a history teacher, technology coach, administrator, and director of technology. He is passionate about learning, teaching, and family adventures. Zach is co-founder and VP of Development and Customer Success at Abre.io, an education management platform.