Canyons Community Schools: Universities and Colleges as Key Partners

Abstract

Abstract Community schools respond to a variety of risk factors that impede student learning and development. School and community leaders in Canyons School District (CSD) have created community schools across one highly impacted feeder pattern to strengthen academic learning efforts, school climate and youth development opportunities, parent and family engagement efforts, health and social services, and community partnerships. Over the past decade, school improvement processes and practices have been supported through key partnerships with colleges and universities. This article describes how universities and colleges assisted five community schools in CSD and illustrates outcomes associated with ongoing evaluation and continuous improvement efforts. The myriad of ways higher education institutions can assist community schools in highly impacted school communities are described, highlighting the various ways schools can leverage university expertise, time, personnel, and capital to help implement expanded models of schooling.