New report shows community schools boost learning

By making schools the hubs of their communities and engaging a range of partners with expertise and resources that schools do not have, community schools support students' needs and boost their learning.

A recent report from the Center for American Progress documents this finding: community schools that lighten the load for teachers in high-poverty schools by alleviating these problems can greatly improve teacher effectiveness. Not only are teachers better day-to-day instructors, these supports also increase the odds that the good ones will want to stay, rather than leaving at the high rates they do in schools that fail to provide such supports.

AFT Connecticut is advocating that community schools be included in legislation.

"We know that struggling school districts can only benefit from the wrap around services provided by community schools," said Sharon Palmer, president of AFT Connecticut.

AFT CT (American Federation of Teachers Connecticut) is committed to improving the quality of education for every child in the state. Education reform issues like teacher tenure, teacher certification, teacher evaluations, early childhood education, charter schools, school funding and more need input from all educators. PreK-12 teachers, paraprofessionals and school related personnel are working every day to improve learning and help students to grow. From urban schools in Connecticut, such as Hartford, New Britain, New Haven and Meriden, to suburban schools, such as, Bloomfield, Simsbury and Waterford,  to regional school districts, our members are working to provide quality education.