Four of the six key practices grew directly out of the four pillars for community schools. Based on the voices and experiences of hundreds of practitioners and the latest research on how children learn best, the Community Schools Forward team also added two new practices:

1. Integrated Systems of Support: School staff and community partners should systematically coordinate health and social services, academic and nonacademic supports, and enrichment opportunities in a manner that fosters student wellbeing.
2. Expanded and Enriched Learning Opportunities: Students need access to before- and after-school and summer opportunities in which they can explore their passions, apply academic content beyond the classroom, and build knowledge.
3. Powerful Student and Family Engagement: Families and students must be active participants in the school community and serve as key partners in decision-making and shaping the school’s environment and priorities.
4. Collaborative Leadership and Shared Power and Voice: Families, students, teachers, principals, and community partners should make decisions together through formal and informal structures.
5. Rigorous, Community-Connected Classroom Instruction: The curriculum should connect high-level content and skills to students’ identities, cultures, and experiences, and students should engage in inquiry-based learning that addresses issues they care about in the world around them.
6. A Culture of Belonging, Safety, and Care: Schools ought to be welcoming places that foster caring and trusting relationships. Everyone should be valued for their experiences and encouraged to share their views and take appropriate risks.

The six key practices are woven together and implemented well when those in community schools cultivate trusting relationships, practice inclusive decision-making, and work together toward a shared vision grounded in actionable data. All these essential components of a community school can provide a solid foundation on which great learning environments are built.

We believe that with this guidance, we will be able to transform our schools and communities, ensuring our students and communities thrive. Our SAUSD Community School Strategic Initiative vision is to collaboratively transform our schools into inclusive, supportive environments where every child’s holistic development is prioritized, ensuring they grow from prenatal stages to becoming empowered, community-oriented global citizens.