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Student Support Services

Student Support Services

Community Schools

The community schools strategy transforms a school into a place where educators, local community members, families, and students work together to strengthen conditions for student learning and healthy development. As partners, they organize in- and out-of-school resources, supports, and opportunities so that young people thrive. The school community, led by the principal and community school coordinator/manager, works to develop a vision and goals for the school, student and family well-being, and student learning. When educators, families, students, and community partners share responsibility for developing the resources that address the unique needs of their schools and communities, they create conditions for working together that enable them to make transformative changes. These conditions include building strong, trusting relationships, engaging in inclusive decision-making, and creating a thriving community. It is in this environment that schools are able to generate optimal, “whole child” conditions for student learning and development. This is accomplished through the integrated implementation of the key practices: powerful student and family engagement; collaborative leadership and shared power and voice; expanded and enriched learning opportunities; rigorous, community-connected classroom instruction; and a culture of belonging, safety, and care. (, 2023)

The responsibilities of the TACs include statewide dissemination of information on effective and promising practices in the establishment and ongoing management of Community School strategies through professional development and technical assistance activities designed to:

  • Familiarize school personnel across New York State with Community School strategies;
  • Increase the knowledge and skills of school personnel and community partners to aid in the implementation, management, and sustainability of Community Schools;
  • Promote the establishment and development of Community Schools that incorporate the characteristics of Community Schools strategies listed above: a rigorous academic program with strong supports, a full range of school-based and school-linked programs and services, and partnerships that demonstrate collaboration with the local community;
  • Provide school districts with the tools necessary to design and implement needs/resource assessments that will provide the data necessary to effectively target Community School resources;
  • Increase statewide capacity to support effective Community School strategies; and
  • Identify and evaluate the school districts’ needs within a region in order to provide tailored technical assistance and professional development.

The New York City Community Schools TAC at Fordham University

Serving Bronx, Kings, New York, Queens, and Richmond Counties

Phone: (212) 636-6100

Email: cstac@fordham.edu

The Eastern New York TAC at Fordham University

Serving Albany, Clinton, Columbia, Dutchess, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Greene, Hamilton, Montgomery, Nassau, Orange, Putnam, Rensselaer, Rockland, Saint Lawrence, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, Suffolk, Sullivan, Ulster, Warren, Washington, and Westchester Counties

Phone: (212) 636-6526

Email: easterncstac@fordham.edu

The Central/Western New York TAC at the Research Foundation for the State University of New York at Binghamton University

Serving Allegany, Broome, Cattaraugus, Cayuga, Chautauqua, Chemung, Chenango, Cortland, Delaware, Erie, Genesee, Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis, Livingston, Madison, Monroe, Niagara, Oneida, Onondaga, Ontario, Orleans, Oswego, Otsego, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, Tioga, Tompkins, Wayne, Wyoming, and Yates Counties

Phone: (607) 777-9284

:cstac@binghamton.edu

Community Schools Technical Assistance Centers Annual Impact

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