Strategic Planning for Community Schools

Building a Foundation

Once the school has a foundational understanding of the strategy, these tools can help the community school leadership team understand community assets and needs and drive system change. 

Resources for Learning

For more about Strategic Planning, click here. 

Community School Master Planning Spreadsheet

Detailed spreadsheet for community school coordinators designed to inform planning conversations for school leadership teams and community based organizations that are aligned with the Community School strategy.

NCCS Essentials for Community Schools Implementation Guide

A practical guide helping community school leadership teams turn assets and needs data into coordinated, partner-driven action plans that improve student, family, and community outcomes.
“We sit and we talk about the needs, and we look at our data and we talk. We talk about our families. One of the mottos in our school is, know the child, and not the class. Don't tell me about the class’s issues, what's Deborah's issue? So why doesn't Deborah come to school? We get to know our families very intimately.”
Deborah Jones
Principal Urban Schools Community School, Bronx, NY

Community School Voices

Emily Paige

Principal, The Unison School, Brooklyn, NY

“I think people need an incredible amount of support in being drawn out, and being forced to drill down and get more specific and more precise around what are the problems you’re looking at…”

Finding the Bang for Your Buck

Dr. Anne Marie Strangio, Director of Student Support Services, former Principal, Lee Wallace Elementary, Albuquerque, NM

“[One of the most important things a leader can do is] figuring out what things can you give up so that you can determine for your community, what’s your biggest bang for the buck?”

Reducing Chronic Absense Through Community Schools

Case Study

Report examining how four California community schools significantly reduced their chronic absenteeism rates in the period after the Covid-19 pandemic.

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Strengthen Your Leadership. Deepen Your Impact.

The National Center for Community Schools helps principals turn the community schools strategy into action with clear guidance, practical tools, and trusted expertise. Ready to move your work forward? Let’s connect.

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