School–University Partnerships Supporting the Transformative Potential of Community Schools

34 - School–University Partnerships Supporting the Transformative Potential of Community Schools

from Part V - Community Schools as School–University Partnerships

Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 November 2025

Shawn Orenstein and

Edited by

Jane E. Neapolitan and

Diane Yendol-Hoppey

Edited in association with

Jori S. Beck ,

Morgan Z. Faison ,

Sonia E. Janis ,

Kathleen Provinzano and

Logan Rutten

Show author details

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

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Summary

Community schools, an equity-oriented reform strategy, has expanded significantly in recent years. To achieve their goals, community schools engage partners that operate outside the traditional K-12 realm. School–University partnerships are one key example of collaboration that have a transformative potential to impact the effectiveness of community schools. While these partnerships hold great potential to advance the vision and mission of community schools, there are also many barriers to the development, sustainability, and growth of meaningful partnerships between universities and community schools. This chapter provides an overview of the community school strategy, outlines both opportunities and challenges in partnerships between universities and community schools, and highlights examples from the field to illustrate some key learnings to establishing sustained partnerships. This chapter aims to contribute to a more open and honest discussions around community school and university partnerships for education equity.

Keywords

community schools full-service community schools partnership evaluation school–university partnerships

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Type: Chapter
Information: The Cambridge Handbook of School–University Partnerships , pp. 501 - 517

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009285841 [Opens in a new window]

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Print publication year: 2025

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