Full Service Community School Grant
Elkhart Community Schools is excited to have secured a five-year Full Service Community School grant to implement the Community School Model across five elementary schools, one middle school, and two schools in the Concord School District.
What Is the Community School Model?
The Community School Model is a strategy for organizing the resources of the school and community around student success. It fosters a sense of belonging and shared responsibility for students’ learning and well-being. By combining school-based services with community partnerships, ECS provides supports and opportunities that meet the needs of students and families.
The Four Pillars of the Community School Model
Pillar 1: Integrated Student Support
A whole-child approach supports both the academic and developmental needs of students. Integrated supports have been shown to improve attendance, behavior, social well-being, and academic achievement.
Pillar 2: Expanded and Enriched Learning Opportunities
Community partners offer supplemental academic instruction, enrichment, one-on-one mentoring, and opportunities for community-based learning that expand the learning environment beyond the classroom.
Pillar 3: Active Family and Community Engagement
ECS values authentic engagement with families and community members. This pillar focuses on building relationships, strengthening the school community, and improving school climate—all of which are tied to improved student outcomes.
Pillar 4: Collaborative Leadership and Shared Practices
This foundational pillar connects and supports the others by promoting shared vision, distributed leadership, and collective decision-making among educators, students, families, and community leaders.
Listening to a Variety of Voices
One of the model’s key principles is elevating the voices of families, students, staff, and community leaders. ECS uses a Needs Assessment tool to help identify each campus's most pressing needs and opportunities.
How to Get Involved
Each community school is tailored to its neighborhood, but they all share a commitment to collaboration, trust, and respectful relationships.
Just Curious?
Watch a quick video that outlines how a full-service community school operates and the role families can play.
Looking Into It?
Explore national resources to deepen your understanding of the Community School Model:
Read the Community School Fact Sheet
Excited? Count Me In!
Connect with your Site Coordinator to talk about how you can get involved.
Meet the Team
Each campus has a Site Coordinator responsible for developing programs and services identified through the Needs Assessment and in collaboration with the school’s Community School Council. They build bridges of care to support student success.
For Community Service Providers
Community partners can offer vital academic, social, and enrichment programs to help schools expand their reach. If your organization is interested in collaborating with ECS, please complete our brief partner interest survey.