THE GROWING CONVERGENCE OF COMMUNITY SCHOOLS AND EXPANDED LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES - Coalition for Community Schools and Institute for Educational Leadership

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Margaret

An authoritative December 2013 report examines how community schools increasingly integrate expanded learning opportunities (ELOs). It describes prevalence of ELOs within community school initiatives, emphasizes structured school-community partnerships, and outlines best practices for implementation. The analysis highlights leadership structures, shared responsibility for quality, and how community schools blend and sustain ELO funding. Case studies from Lincoln and Baltimore illustrate strategic alignment of community schools and expanded learning opportunities.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages46

Reading Time1 h 56 min

AccessFree to download

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

PREFACE AND ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

INTRODUCTION

Community Schools

Expanded Learning Opportunities

Convergence of Community Schools and Expanded Learning Opportunities

FINDINGS

Prevalence of Expanded Learning Opportunities in Community Schools

Expanded Learning Opportunities is a Core Strategy for Community School Initiatives

Community Schools Provide Expanded Learning Opportunity across all ELO Types

Intentional and Structured School-Community Partnerships Support Expanded Learning Opportunities

Best Practices of Implementing Expanded Learning Opportunities in Community Schools

CONCLUSION

REFERENCES

APPENDIX

Appendix I: Data Sources

Appendix II: Lincoln Case Study—Expanding Learning Opportunities through Partnership

Appendix III: Baltimore Case Study—Strategic Alignment of Community Schools and Expanded Learning Opportunities

Appendix IV: Community Schools Superintendents Leadership Council

Appendix V: Coalition for Community Schools Partners

THE GROWING CONVERGENCE OF COMMUNITY SCHOOLS AND EXPANDED LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES Reuben Jacobson • Shama S. Jamal • Linda Jacobson • Martin J. Blank December 2013 Coalition for Community Schools c/o Institute for Educational Leadership 4301 Connecticut Avenue, Suite 100 Washington, DC 20008 (202) 822-8405 E-mail: [ccs@iel.org](ccs@iel.org) [Web site:](Web site: www.communityschools.org)[ ](Web site: www.communityschools.org)[www.communityschools.org](Web site: www.communityschools.org) [Twitter:](Twitter: @commschools)[ ](Twitter: @commschools)[@commschools](Twitter: @commschools) [Martin J](Martin J). Blank Director and President, Institute for Educational Leadership Maame Appiah Manager, Operations and Partnerships Reuben Jacobson Senior Associate for Research and Strategy Shama S. Jamal National Policy Emerson Fellow Devon Minerve Program Assistant Heather Naviasky Program Associate Mary Kingston Roche Public Policy Manager About the Coalition for Community Schools The Coalition for Community Schools, housed at the Institute for Educational Leadership (IEL), is an alliance of national, state and local organizations in education K–16, youth development, community planning and development, higher education, family support, health and human services, government, and philanthropy as well as national, state, and local community school networks. The Coalition advocates for community schools as a strategy to leverage local resources and programs, changing the look and feel of the traditional school structure to best meet the needs of children and families in the 21st century. About the Institute for Educational Leadership (IEL) For a half-century, the Institute for Educational Leadership (IEL) has championed the need for leaders at all levels to shake off their institutional constraints and work across boundaries to address the needs of young people and their families. Bound by no constituency, IEL serves as a catalyst that helps policymakers, administrators, and practitioners at all levels bridge bureaucratic silos and undo gridlock to improve outcomes for all young people and their families. IEL’s mission is to equip leaders to work together across boundaries to build effective systems that prepare children and youth for postsecondary education, careers, and citizenship. © December 2013 by the Coalition for Community Schools, Institute for Educational Leadership, Inc. This document may be reproduced for educational purposes, providing credit is attributed to the Coalition for Community Schools, Institute for Educational Leadership. ISBN: 1-933493-45-3 CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ............................................................................................................ 2 PREFACE AND ACKNOWLEDGMENTS .................................................................................. 4 INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................... 5 Community Schools .................................................................................................................... 6 Expanded Learning Opportunities .............................................................................................. 7 Convergence of Community Schools and Expanded Learning Opportunities ........................... 8 About the Study........................................................................................................................... 9 FINDINGS .................................................................................................................................... 13 Prevalence of Expanded Learning Opportunities in Community Schools................................ 13 Expanded Learning Opportunities is a Core Strategy for Community School Initiatives .... 13 Community Schools Provide Expanded Learning Opportunity across all ELO Types .......

FAQs

What is the main focus of the study?

The study focuses on the growing convergence between community schools and expanded learning opportunities, including how ELOs are implemented and sustained.

How do community schools support expanded learning opportunities?

The report explains that community schools provide ELOs across multiple ELO types and rely on intentional, structured school-community partnerships.

What factors influence quality and sustainability of expanded learning opportunities?

Quality is presented as a shared responsibility across partners, while funding is described as blended and sustained through community school initiatives.

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Margaret