Skip to main content Accessibility help
×
Hostname: page-component-7857688df4-fzltz Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-11-16T04:00:11.314Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

35 - Creating Win-Win Relationships between Community Schools and Higher Education

One Organization’s Perspective

from Part V - Community Schools as School–University Partnerships

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 November 2025

Janna Dresden
Affiliation:
University of Georgia
JoAnne Ferrara
Affiliation:
Manhattanville University
Jane E. Neapolitan
Affiliation:
Towson University
Diane Yendol-Hoppey
Affiliation:
University of North Florida
Jori S. Beck
Affiliation:
Old Dominion University
Morgan Z. Faison
Affiliation:
University of Georgia
Sonia E. Janis
Affiliation:
University of Georgia
Kathleen Provinzano
Affiliation:
Binghamton University
Logan Rutten
Affiliation:
University of North Dakota
Get access

Summary

This chapter outlines how Children’s Aid has partnered in community schools work with institutions of higher education in New York City and beyond. This work includes establishment of a satellite college campus in a public intermediate school; development and implementation of multi-year evaluations of Children’s Aid community schools; professional development partnerships with all New York City graduate schools of social work; and, most recently, the co-creation of the nation’s first on-line course on community schools. The chapter explores several key themes: (1) how the centrality of partnerships to the work of community schools makes these venues fertile ground for innovative School–University collaborations; (2) the mutually beneficial nature of these partnerships; (3) the role of Children’s Aid as a coordinator of these School–University partnerships; and (4) lessons learned about factors that enhance or hinder effective School–University collaborations. Findings from the multi-year community school evaluations and other relevant research are presented.

Information

Type
Chapter
Information
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2025

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Book purchase

Temporarily unavailable

References

Benson, L., & Harkavy, I. (1999). University-assisted community schools as democratic public works. The Good Society, 9(2), 1420.Google Scholar
Binghamton University (2022). Building successful partnerships between higher education and community schools. Author.Google Scholar
Blank, M. J., Melaville, A., & Shah, B. (2003). Making the difference: Research and practice in community schools. Coalition for Community Schools, Institute for Educational Leadership.Google Scholar
Blank, M. J., Goodman, D., Harkavy, I., Quinn, J., & Villarreal, L. (2023). The community schools revolution: Building partnerships, transforming lives, advancing democracy. Collaborative Communications Group, Inc.Google Scholar
Brickman, E. (1996). A formative evaluation of P. S. 5: A Children’s Aid Society/Board of Education Community School. Fordham University Graduate School of Social Services.Google Scholar
Brickman, E., & Cancelli, A. (1997). Washington Heights community schools evaluation: First year findings. Fordham University Graduate School of Education.Google Scholar
Brickman, E., Cancelli, A., Sanchez, A., & Rivera, G. (1998). The Children’s Aid Society/Board of Education community schools: Second-year evaluation report. Fordham University. Graduate School of Education and Fordham University Graduate School of Social Services.Google Scholar
Brickman, E., Cancelli, A., Sanchez, A., & Rivera, G. (1999). The Children’s Aid Society/Board of Education community schools: Third-year evaluation report. Fordham University Graduate School of Education and Fordham University Graduate School of Social Services.Google Scholar
Bronstein, L. R., & Mason, S. E. (2016). School-linked services: Promoting equity for children, families, and communities. Columbia University Press.10.7312/bron16094CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Children’s Aid (2018). Leading with purpose and passion: A guide for community school directors. Author.Google Scholar
Children’s Aid (2023). A history of innovation. www.childrensaidnyc.org/about/history-innovation.Google Scholar
The Children’s Aid Society (1994). Building a community school. Author.Google Scholar
The Children’s Aid Society (2011). Building community schools: A guide for action. Author.Google Scholar
Clark, H. (2003). Evaluation of the health component in its first year: The health component theory of change, early outcomes, and case studies. ActKnowledge, Center for Human Environments of the City University of New York Graduate Center.Google Scholar
Clark, H., & Collins, E. (2009). Study comparing Children’s Aid Society Community Schools to other New York City public schools (all schools and peer schools). ActKnowledge, Center for Human Environments of the City University of New York Graduate Center.Google Scholar
Clark, H., & Engle, R. (2001). Summary of research findings, 1992–1999. ActKnowledge, Center for Human Environments of the City University of New York Graduate Center.Google Scholar
Clark, H., & Grimaldi, C. (2005). Evaluation of Children’s Aid Society Community Schools. In Dryfoos, J. G., Quinn, J., & Barkin, C. (Eds.), Community schools in action: Lessons from a decade of practice. Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Clark, H., & Krenichyn, K. (2005). 21st Century Community Learning Centers at six New York City middle schools: Year one findings. ActKnowledge, Center for Human Environments of the City University of New York Graduate Center.Google Scholar
Clark, H., Krenichyn, K., & Benitez, L. (2004). C. S. 61 first year evaluation; prepared for The Children’s Aid Society. ActKnowledge, Center for Human Environments of the City University of New York Graduate Center.Google Scholar
Clark, H., Krenichyn, K., & Rasic, M. (2013). Afterschool program results and testing of the community school model. ActKnowledge, Center for Human Environments of the City University of New York Graduate Center.Google Scholar
Coalition for Community Schools (2014). Community schools are an essential equity strategy. Institute for Educational Leadership.Google Scholar
Coalition for Community Schools (2020). Amidst a pandemic, community schools pave the way forward for education, and coordinators are drivers. Institute for Educational Leadership. www.communityschools.org/news/amidst-a-pandemic-community-schools-pave-the-way-forward-for-education-and-coordinators-are-drivers/.Google Scholar
Collins, E., & Rasic, M. (2013). The Children’s Aid Society Twenty-First Century Community Learning Center Grant (2010–2013). ActKnowledge.Google Scholar
Dewey, J. (1902). The school as social center. The Elementary School Teacher, 3(2), 7386.10.1086/453152CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dryfoos, J. G. (1994). Full-service schools: A revolution in health and social services for children, youth, and families (1st ed.). Jossey-Bass.Google Scholar
Dryfoos, J., & Quinn, J. (Eds.) (2005). Community schools: A strategy for integrating youth development and school reform. Special issue of New Directions for Youth Development, Number 107.Google Scholar
Dryfoos, J. G., Quinn, J., & Barkin, C. (2005). Community schools in action: Lessons from a decade of practice. Oxford University Press.10.1093/oso/9780195169591.001.0001CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Harkavy, I. (2005). University-assisted community school program of West Philadelphia: Democratic partnerships that make a difference. In Dryfoos, J. & Quinn, J. (Eds.), New directions for youth development, No. 107 (pp. 3544). Jossey-Bass.Google Scholar
Jacobson, R. (2016). Community schools: A place-based approach to education and neighborhood change. The Brookings Institution.Google Scholar
Maier, A., Daniel, J., Oakes, J., & Lam, L. (2017). Community schools as an effective school improvement strategy: A review of the evidence. Learning Policy Institute.Google Scholar
National Center for Education Statistics (2020). Digest of education statistics. https://nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/d20/tables/dt20_317.10.asp?current=yes.Google Scholar
The New NY Education Reform Commission (2013). Putting students first: Education action plan – New NY Education Reform Commission Preliminary Recommendations. Author.Google Scholar
Oakes, J., & Maier, A. (2020, July). In the fallout of the pandemic, community schools show a way forward for education. Learning Policy Institute. https://learningpolicyinstitute.org/blog/covid-community-schools-show-way-forward-education.Google Scholar
Partnership for the Future of Learning (2018). Community schools playbook: A practical guide to advancing community school strategies. Author.Google Scholar
Provinzano, K. (2023). The time is now: Advocating for contextually responsive policy to support full-service community schools. In Ransaw, T. S. & Boggs, B. (Eds.), Emerging trends in education policy: Unapologetic progressive conversations. Information Age Publishing.Google Scholar
Quinn, J., & Blank, M. J. (2020). Twenty years, ten lessons: Community schools as an equitable school improvement strategy. Voices in Urban Education, 49(2), pp. 4453.Google Scholar
Rasic, M., & Clark, H. (2014). The Children’s Aid Society Twenty-First Century Community Learning Center grant: Evaluation Report (2014–2015). ActKnowledge.Google Scholar
Robison, E. (1993). An interim evaluation report concerning a collaboration between The Children’s Aid Society, New York City Board of Education, Community School District 6 and the I.S. 218 Salomé Ureña de Henríquez Middle Academies. Fordham University Graduate School of Social Services.Google Scholar
Rogers, J. S. (1998). Community schools: Lessons from the past and present – A report to the Charles S. Mott Foundation. UCLA.Google Scholar
US Department of Education (2022). Fiscal year 2023 budget summary. Author.Google Scholar
Valli, L., Stefanski, A., & Jacobson, R. (2014). Typologizing school-community partnerships: A framework for analysis and action. Urban Education, 129. https://doi.org/10.1177/0042085914549366.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

Accessibility standard: WCAG 2.1 AA

Why this information is here

This section outlines the accessibility features of this content - including support for screen readers, full keyboard navigation and high-contrast display options. This may not be relevant for you.

Accessibility Information

The PDF of this book complies with version 2.1 of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), covering newer accessibility requirements and improved user experiences and achieves the intermediate (AA) level of WCAG compliance, covering a wider range of accessibility requirements.

Content Navigation

Table of contents navigation
Allows you to navigate directly to chapters, sections, or non‐text items through a linked table of contents, reducing the need for extensive scrolling.
Index navigation
Provides an interactive index, letting you go straight to where a term or subject appears in the text without manual searching.

Reading Order & Textual Equivalents

Single logical reading order
You will encounter all content (including footnotes, captions, etc.) in a clear, sequential flow, making it easier to follow with assistive tools like screen readers.

Visual Accessibility

Use of colour is not sole means of conveying information
You will still understand key ideas or prompts without relying solely on colour, which is especially helpful if you have colour vision deficiencies.

Structural and Technical Features

ARIA roles provided
You gain clarity from ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) roles and attributes, as they help assistive technologies interpret how each part of the content functions.

Save book to Kindle

To save this book to your Kindle, first ensure no-reply@cambridge.org is added to your Approved Personal Document E-mail List under your Personal Document Settings on the Manage Your Content and Devices page of your Amazon account. Then enter the ‘name’ part of your Kindle email address below. Find out more about saving to your Kindle.

Note you can select to save to either the @free.kindle.com or @kindle.com variations. ‘@free.kindle.com’ emails are free but can only be saved to your device when it is connected to wi-fi. ‘@kindle.com’ emails can be delivered even when you are not connected to wi-fi, but note that service fees apply.

Find out more about the Kindle Personal Document Service.

Available formats
×

Save book to Dropbox

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Dropbox.

Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

Available formats
×