Read the full story from Multnomah County here.
“Many people may know SUN Community Schools as neighborhood hubs that serve students and families. But the work goes much further than that. Alongside after-school programming with quality instruction and enriching extracurricular activities, SUN Community Schools connect families to food, shelter and energy bill resources, health and mental health services, and family activities and events.
‘This school year marks 25 years of SUN Community Schools,’ said Chair Jessica Vega Pederson, who opened Tuesday’s briefing. ‘These very momentous 25 years have taken us from eight community schools, back when it started in 1999, to 94 schools across six school districts today. The growth and development of this program over time is so inspiring, and it has such an impact on young people, on families and on our communities.’
SUN Community Schools have been highlighted by the National Coalition of Community Schools(link is external) as an example of collaboration and funding from different sources over time. And in 2023, the United States Department of Education noted a study(link is external) by research organization RAND that found improved attendance and student achievement thanks to community school programs.”