About the Center

Empowering Community Schools

The UCF Center for Community Schools operates as a practice-based organization dedicated to providing comprehensive support for community schools. This includes delivering technical assistance, facilitating university-assisted partnerships, offering training and development, and conducting assessments and evaluations.

In 2010, UCF co-founded the Community Partnership School™ model with Children’s Home Society of Florida and Orange County Public Schools at Evans High in Orlando. Since then, the center has been at the forefront of community school development in the state. In 2014, the UCF Center for Community Schools opened to further support the Community Partnership Schools model throughout Florida and enhance the broader practice of community schooling. The center has also implemented a rigorous, strength-based certification process to ensure best practices, with the number of UCF-Certified Community Partnership Schools increasing each year, and many others seeking certification.

Expanding upon its foundational model, the center also supports the Unlimited Potential Initiative community school model. This innovative approach further diversifies the types of community school models supported by the center, aiming to align with evolving educational and community needs while retaining a commitment to high-quality, evidence-based practices.

Membership

The UCF Center for Community Schools Advisory Board comprises leaders in community schools and other fields who provide expertise in support of the center’s mission and vision. Its members help to sustain and expand the center’s efforts, access knowledge-based resources, support program accountability through guidance and feedback, and serve as ambassadors in community collaborations.

Meetings

Meetings are scheduled as needed but no less than two times a year and may be in person or via teleconference. An agenda and any materials to be reviewed are sent to all participants at least one week prior to each meeting.