Every Child Deserves a Thriving School Community
At the UCF Center for Community Schools, we believe in a world where every student has access to education that nurtures success and well-being. We're dedicated to creating environments where children can flourish in all aspects of their lives through our comprehensive community school models.
Why Choose a Community School Approach?
Community schools empower students and educators, engage families and transform communities through:
- Accessible Opportunities: Fostering an environment where every student can thrive.
- Community Collaboration: Strengthening connections between schools, families, and local organizations can support students and improve community well-being.
- Holistic Focus on Students: Considering more than just academics to support the physical, social, and emotional well-being of students.
What We Do
The center provides the following services:
- Technical Assistance: Providing schools with the necessary tools to cultivate and maintain success.
- University-Assisted Partnerships: Leveraging our connections with higher education to augment our resources and the application of research-backed practices.
- Continuous Assessment and Evaluation: Employing data-driven methods to facilitate constant improvement.
- Collaborative Leadership: We champion initiatives that bring together diverse stakeholders, fostering school environments where innovation is sustainable and thrives.
7 New Community Partnership Schools
The UCF Center for Community Schools welcomes all seven awardees of the Community School Grant Program to begin planning during the 2024-25 school year:
- Buchanan Middle (Hillsborough)
- Carver Middle (Orange)
- Homestead Senior High (Miami-Dade)
- Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Elementary (Alachua)
- Matthew W. Gilbert Middle (Duval)
- Turie T. Small Elementary (Volusia)
- Weatherbee Elementary (St. Lucie)
Interested in applying next year? Check back in Fall 2025. In the meantime, learn more about the Community School Grant Program, this year’s awardees and their core partners.
The Impact of Our Work
We are making strides, with 18 UCF-Certified Community Partnership Schools in Florida and plans for expansion. Our commitment is to create educational environments where every student can excel. Take a look at the impact statewide in 2023-24.
2023-24 CPS Data
Join the Community School Movement
Learn more about our strategies, services and the achievements we've made. Be part of a movement that believes in the transformative power of education backed by a strong community support system.
Community Partnership Schools™ Model
The UCF Center for Community Schools promotes the development of community partnerships that include four core partners — a school district, a university or college, a community-based nonprofit, and a healthcare provider, as well as others. This approach is named the Community Partnership Schools™ model.
The partners work together to provide a community school with a wide variety of academic support and enrichment opportunities as well as primary medical, dental and behavioral healthcare for the students, the students’ families and the surrounding community.
The center oversees a rigorous, strengths-based certification process to ensure best practices at Community Partnership Schools. Currently, there are 18 UCF-Certified Community Partnership Schools in Florida, with many others seeking certification.
In the News
State Funding Increase to Drive Growth in Community Partnership Schools
UCF Center for Community Schools Welcomes $3.9M Funding Increase
Center Newsletter
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