Making Education THE Priority

John Begala, president of the Federation for Community Planning, makes the case that education should be the overriding priority for health and social service organizations for many years to come.

Community School Coordinator

The Chicago Public Schools recently created a position description for Community Resource (School) Coordinator in its personnel structure. This sends a signal to principals that they can use Title I funds and other discretionary resources to coordinate public and private programs at the school site.

Non-Regulatory Guidance for 21st Century Community Learning Centers

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John Begala, president of the Federation for Community Planning in Cleveland, Ohio, is making the case that education should serve as the single, central long-term priority for health and social service organizations. In Planning & Action, the monthly journal of the Federation for Community Planning, Begala writes that there aretwo important ideas that suggest this conclusion:

The significant point Begala draws from these two ideas is this:
"For a defined period of time, at least the balance of this decade, education should be acknowledged as the top regional priority. Further, it should be accorded such status that all of our other public systems serving children and their immediate families - county, municipal, and nonprofit - are expected to demonstrate tangible contributions toward this end. With this framework, substantial new attention and investment should be given to adolescents and their families."

Begala argues that many of the factors that contribute to the struggle of public education are beyond the reach of the schools. It is only through long-term commitment and collaboration that these barriers can be adequately addressed. "It is specifically in the health and social services arena that adopting education as an overriding priority is so vitally important. It would align programs, services, agencies, and initiatives addressing the basic health and social needs with the educational achievement most likely to enhance individual futures and contribute to economic revitalization." This can only be done through sustained commitment over the years ahead.

For a complete copy of the article, go to http://www.fcp.org/ep/pa/PAV54N11.pdf.
To learn more about the Federation for Community Planning, visit http://www.fcp.org/.

The new ESEA legislation emphasizes the coordination of public and private programs at the school site. This is the work of a Community School Coordinator. This person also reduces the burden of management on the principal.
Title I could be a long term funding source for these positions.

The Chicago Public Schools recently created a similar position in its personnel structure for a Community Resource Coordinator so that its principals know that using Title I funds or other discretionary grant resources for this purpose is acceptable. We encourage community school advocates to persuade their school districts to do the same. A copy of the job description has been provided by the Chicago Public Schools at http://www.communityschools.org/crc.html.

The United States Department of Education has issued a Non-Regulatory Guidance Draft for 21st Century Community Learning Centers. The passage of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, which significantly amended the ESEA Act to expand State and local accountability and flexibility and to stress the adoption of research-based practice, substantially changed the 21st CCLC program.

The Non-Regulatory Guidance draft focuses on the requirements of the statute and the Department of Education's interpretations of these provisions. The draft provides guidance that clearly interprets the requirements of the statute, represents the findings of research and experience, promotes high-quality programs that directly assist student learning and achievement, and ensures that diverse stakeholders within each community are involved in planning and delivering program services.

The draft is available at http://www.communityschools.org/nrgdraft.pdf.

Register now for Community Schools Work!
2002 National Forum
When: June 23-25, 2002
Where: Renaissance Washington DC Hotel, 999 9th Street, Washington, DC
Who: Parents, teachers, principals, superintendents, youth development professionals, health and social service professionals, policy makers, neighborhood/community development advocates - anyone committed to improving the quality of the education and development of America's youth. Community teams of any size are encouraged.
How: Go to www.communityschools.org/conference to register or e-mail blackwellw@iel.org for more details.

Additional Information
Check out http://www.communityschools.org/ for more information on the Coalition's work and progress. Contact Will Blackwell at blackwellw@iel.org to share important information involving community schools in your area and to learn more about their success across the nation.