Three state approaches to supporting community schools: ongoing school funding formula allocations, competitive grant funding, and capacity-building supports¶

Strategy · All strategies
Evidence · no claims cited

Description¶

The report highlights "three potential approaches to state support for community schools: (1) ongoing support through school funding formulas, (2) competitive grant funding, and (3) capacity-building supports (such as certification processes)." Maryland and New York exemplify the funding-formula approach (an entitlement grant and a set-aside respectively); California, Illinois, New Mexico, and Vermont use competitive grants funded by state general funds, federal ESSER funds, or both; Florida and Georgia use certification-based capacity building. Together these approaches create state infrastructure with continuous funding and technical assistance rather than isolated, expiring grants.

Design Implications¶

Context¶

Requirements¶

• Requires state legislative or budget action to establish the funding stream or certification mechanism, and identification of eligible high-need schools or districts.

Constraints¶

• Competitive grants are time-limited and may be discontinued; the report notes grant funding can serve as a precursor to an ongoing funding stream.

Target Learners¶

• Students in high-need districts and schools, including high-poverty, small and rural, and pandemic-affected communities

Target Learning Goals¶

• Equitable school improvement through integrated student supports and whole child development

Affordances¶

• Community Schools Four Pillars Framework

Related Strategies¶

• Provide sustainable, dedicated funding for community school coordinators plus technical assistance and capacity-building

Examples¶

-

Key Sources¶

• Maier, A., & Rivera-Rodriguez, A. (2023). State strategies for investing in community schools. Learning Policy Institute. https://doi.org/10.54300/612.402