With the community schools approach accepted as a school improvement strategy under the Every Student Succeeds Act, and research showing positive outcomes — such as improved attendance, better access to physical and mental health services, and higher test scores — the number of districts launching and expanding the community schools model continues to increase.
Under the leadership of New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, for example, a community schools effort led by the city’s Department of Education has spread to almost 230 schools in just a couple of years.