Upcoming Events
Month of March
ISBE 21st CCLC Training
The Family and Community Pillars: Engaging Community Stakeholders
See description below
Friday, March 16 Community School Orientation Bradley University, Peoria, IL 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. See description at right
-- SAVE THE DATE --
Tuesday, March 20
Common Core Training
Chicago History Museum
1601 N. Clark
9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
More info to come
ISBE 21st CCLC Training
The Family and Community Pillars: Engaging Community Stakeholders
All 21st CCLC grantees are invited to participate in this on-site training which will provide tools and processes that participants can use to build better partnerships with families and community-based organizations to support student success.
Participants will learn about using the community school model to develop an infrastructure and implement strategies for meaningful family and community engagement. Attendees will also receive and work with tools designed for developing and implementing effective and sustained family and community engagement strategies in their schools.
For a complete list of meeting dates and locations, please visit our website.
If you have questions about this training, contact Greg Hall.
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Recap: CPS' Full School Day Initiative in Community Schools
On February 14th, the Federation for Community Schools convened a Stakeholder meeting focused on the role of community schools as Chicago Public Schools (CPS) extends the length of the traditional school day and year. Monica Lee, CPS' Director of New Initiatives, presented an overview of the district's Full School Day Initiative. Monica shared that the full day in Chicago will start in September 2012, and schools are expected to have draft plans in place this month and final plans approved by May.
Following this overview, attendees heard from Adeline Ray, Senior Manager, CPS' Community Schools Initiative, and a panel of community school practitioners, including Hector Herrera Yepez (Enlace Chicago / Castellanos School), and Lissette Moreno-Kuri (Logan Square Neighborhood Association), who are participating in the Full School Day planning process in their communities and Deborah Wilson (Youth Guidance / Brown School), who is working in a "pioneer" school that implemented a longer school day in September 2011. The presenters shared these ideas and strategies to help guide participation in the full school day planning process.
- It's not too late! Begin having conversations with your principal/s, teachers, parents, and students about how you can support the full school day planning process. Ask your principal about being on your school's Full School Day planning committee.
- Community school Advisory Boards are a great place to learn about your stakeholders' ideas and concerns about extending the school day.
- Resource Coordinators can be help their principals identify wrap-around programs / services to be implemented during the school staff planning periods.
- Think about the ways in which afterschool snack / dinner programs and janitors' schedules may need to be adjusted to accommodate the full school day schedule.
- Become a bridge between families and the school, ensuring that the perspectives of students and families are carried to the full day planning committees. Some issues to consider include: effects of a longer day on students; reduced time for homework; coordination of feeder school schedules; staff burnout; and safety issues.
Undoubtedly, the transition to a full school day will present its challenges. But it's also a real opportunity to continue moving towards full implementation of the community school model and engaging more community partners in preparing students for success. We all need to be thinking creatively about how to meet student and family needs within a new, differently-structured and longer school day. |
Leadership Opportunities within the Federation for Community Schools
Those of you who are new to the Federation may not realize that the Federation was formed through a collaboration between community school funders and community school practitioners who, for nearly 5 years, voluntarily came together to strengthen their work. When, in 2007, this group formalized into the Federation it did so under the invaluable leadership and guidance of many of you who continue to be active members of the Federation. Since then we have been fortunate enough to grow from an organization of a few hundred members to over 1000-strong. Along the way we have developed critical partnerships across the state in communities like Sycamore and Peoria, and, more recently, Vermilion and Richland Counties.
As a member-driven organization with only a small staff, we continue to count on our members to both lead and participate in our advocacy and quality improvement efforts. To facilitate leadership and participation, the Federation convenes a Program Advisory Committee (PAC) elected by our members. The PAC is made-up of community school professionals with experience and vision for moving the community school agenda forward in Illinois. They meet monthly to discuss challenges and opportunities in the field, and represent community-level issues to the Federation Board - of which 5 PAC members are a part.
In upcoming months, we will begin the process of electing additional representatives from our general membership to serve on the PAC. Participating in Federation Stakeholder meetings, Resource Coordinator Luncheons, and other working groups are all critical ways to lend your talents to the community school movement, while the PAC is an opportunity to serve as a Federation leader. If you are interested in learning more about the leadership opportunities available to you and/or your organization within the Federation, please contact Melissa Mitchell. |
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Community School Orientation in Peoria, IL
March 16, 2012 from 9:00 - 3:00 p.m.
Bradley University, Peoria, IL
Hosted by Bradley University, the community school partner with Peoria District 150, this orientation training provides an overview of the community school model and sets the course for the first several months of commuity school "transformation" including:
- Understanding what we mean when we say "community school"
- What is the difference between a community school and a school with afterschool programming?
- What does a community school look like and how does it operate?
- How to build a strong foundation - practical ways to ensure a solid community school foundation using principles like: Shared Vision, Partnership, Shared Leadership / Advisory Board, Data Driven Decision Making, Integrated Learning, Collaboration, Broader Opportunities, and Leveraged Resources.
- The Role of the Resource Coordinator - RC Orientation Guide, 1st steps for a new coordinator, Where do I go for...?
- Early Opportunities for Engaging Stakeholders
- Assessing local needs and resources
- Developing an Advisory Board
All Illinois schools and community organizations interested in the community school model are encouraged to attend. School teams could include principals, resource coordinators, community partners, parent leaders, and community leaders. The training will accommodate up to 30 people; registrations will be accepted until the event is full.
If you have questions, please contact Greg Hall, Director of Professional Development. |
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