Community & School Engagement Strategy
Origin: Family League of Baltimore
Link: Click here
Summary: Baltimore’s Community and School Engagement Strategy, made possible with financial support from the
Mayor and Baltimore City Council, brings together a wide range of partners and community resources to promote
student achievement, positive conditions for learning, and the well-being of families and communities.
Talking Points & Important Information:
• Community schools bring together partner organizations to work with school staff to provide additional
programming and services for students and families. For Baltimore, this model can include high-quality
afterschool activities, tutoring, health check-ups, and mental health counseling for children or tax-preparation
services and financial counseling for parents.
• Each of the 52 community schools in the Baltimore Community and School Engagement Strategy has a
community school coordinator who develops partnerships with local community organizations to create
an environment where academics, enrichment, health and social supports, family engagement, youth
and community development improve student well-being. Schools are resources to the community and
offer programs and opportunities that are open to all. And Out of School Time — afterschool and summer
programming — is aligned with every community school to extend and enrich the educational experience of
every student at the 52 Community Schools managed and supported by the Family League of Baltimore.
• According to our partners at the Coalition for Community Schools, “using public schools as hubs, community
schools bring together many partners to offer a range of supports and opportunities to children, youth, families,
and communities.” Partners and stakeholders work to ensure that children are ready to enter school; that
students attend school consistently; that children are actively involved their classrooms and their community;
that families are increasingly involved with their children’s education; that schools are engaged with families and
communities while students are succeeding academically; and that students are healthy – physically, socially,
and emotionally – while attending, living, and learning in a safe, supportive, and stable environment.
• Research shows that community schools have a powerful positive impact on students, as demonstrated
by increased academic success, a positive change in attitudes toward school and learning, and decreased
behavioral problems.
• Community schools are cost-effective because they leverage existing resources provided by local, state, federal,
and private sources and bring programs to the schools where the students and their families – the community –
are already congregated. For more information, click here.
2015 POLICY BOOK
LOCAL
LEVEL
PAGE 34