United Way launched the Community School Model in the 2016-17 school year with five pilot elementary schools in Erie’s Public Schools (EPS). There are 13 school districts in Erie County, each with its own challenges. EPS was selected as it is by far the largest school district in the county and serves the highest need population (see Why section for poverty data).
The intent was to start with these elementary schools, getting them well established as community schools, before expanding to other schools. It takes time to bring any school on board as a full-service community school. There are layers of work that need to be done and built upon. For example, during the first year as the Community School Director (CSD) and Data & Evaluation Team (DET) are collecting and analyzing volumes of data, basic needs are addressed through the creation of the Community School Closet, including securing a washer and dryer if necessary.
Subsequent years of implementation are driven by priorities based on the four pillars and goals for the school year. These priorities are identified over the summer with the review of the previous school year’s data, building on successful strategies and also identifying areas that need improvement.
While not set in stone, United Way follows a general timeline to assess what phase a community school is currently in and to also set expectations for key stakeholders. The ultimate outcome of academic success is constant, with moving the majority of low-income students into meeting or exceeding academic proficiency. The three phases United Way shares are:
Implementation and the subsequent impact of the Community School Model is a marathon, not a sprint. Often community schools are addressing problems and challenges in the public education system that have multiplied and deepened over decades. This may be a result of unfair and inadequate funding for school districts, shifts in demographics or other deeply ingrained systemic factors that are complex and take time, commitment, and data-driven work to address and resolve.
United Way’s undertaking of our Community School Model as the backbone organization took years to accomplish. It is understood that this work will be its primary focus not only for the short-term, but for at least a generation, or longer. Leading community schools is not an “in and out” equation; it takes unwavering dedication and focus, for every stakeholder, but the responsibility to keep on mission falls to United Way as the backbone organization.
