Prichard Committee - Community Schools Initiative

Community-driven, local impact, state policy, and large-scale mindset shift.

Community schools are an evidence-based strategy to advance equity and reduce barriers to learning by providing the services needed to support student and family well-being. Through trusting relationships and well-coordinated supports, community schools ensure that students receive the health, social service, and learning opportunities they need to be successful.– Learning Policy Institute.

Pipeline Services to Include

Pipeline services means a continuum of coordinated supports, services, and opportunities for children from birth through entry into and success in postsecondary education and career attainment. Each participating district will be required to increase the number of pipeline services provided to the student/family population of the target school/s. Such services shall include, at a minimum, strategies to address through services or programs (including integrated student supports) the following:

High-quality early childhood education programs.
High-quality school and out-of-school-time programs and strategies.
Support for a child’s transition to elementary school, from elementary school to middle school, from middle school to high school, and from high school into and through postsecondary education and into the workforce, including any comprehensive readiness assessment determined necessary.
Family and community engagement and supports, which may include engaging or supporting families at school or at home.
Activities that support postsecondary and workforce readiness, which may include job training, internship, opportunities, and career counseling.
Community-based support for students who have attended the schools in the area served by the pipeline, or students who are members of the community, facilitating their continued connection to the community and success in postsecondary education and the workforce.
Social, health, nutrition, and mental health services and supports.
Juvenile crime prevention and rehabilitation programs.

The Prichard Committee Groundswell-Community School Initiative Framework

Initial cohort of 4 districts with 2 schools each: Jefferson County, Morehead/Rowan County, and Owensboro Ind & Daviess County
Up to 20 additional districts, including 40 schools added in 5-years provide “proof points”
State and community needs-assessment, landscape analysis to determine target locations and gaps in existing service
Local community conversations to arrive at the unique model embraced by the school-student-family community
Strategic action plan coupled with financial resources to pay for local needs and innovations necessary to set up an effective full-service community school
State steering committee to include relevant state Cabinets and departments as well as state nonprofits, community-based organizations to take the learning from the “proof points” to inform state policy