New report discusses how to leverage multiple resources to support community schools

February 10, 2011 – Financing Community Schools: Leveraging Resources to Support Student Success, a new report from the Coalition for Community Schools, provides information on how to finance the many important services that community schools offer. With budgets tight and more and more being asked of schools, working with other community organizations invested in the welfare of children makes financial sense. The first paper in a series on building capacity for community schools, this document is meant to help practitioners and policymakers develop capacity and resources to create more effective community schools.

The study is organized into 4 parts: Community Schools—Vision, Strategy and Results; Financing Community Schools—Findings and Lessons; Recommendations for Policymakers; and Community School Case Studies.

Findings include:

1. More than 50% of their resources go directly to assisting schools meet their core instructional mission, while also strengthening the health and well-being of students, families and neighborhoods.
2. Diversified funding in community schools leverages district dollars 3:1.
3. Collaborative leadership structures support finance and other key functions at the site and system level.
4.  A mix of public and private sector partners expands financial, as well as technical and political capacity.
5.  Full-time site coordination contributes essential site level capacity at minimal cost.