Building Community Schools in Arkansas
According to Forward Arkansas, a non-profit organization founded in 2015 to improve outcomes for all students in Arkansas, the “current state of education in Arkansas is a picture of considerable challenges.” As reported in 2023, despite slight improvements leading up to the pandemic, overall student academic outcomes were severely lagging before COVID-19 and worsened during pandemic disruptions. Furthermore, many Arkansas students are leaving K-12 unprepared for college and career opportunities.
On the other hand, Forward Arkansas notes promising initiatives to address critical and foundational issues that the state can build on to accelerate progress moving forward, including the community schools model.
To this end, the State of Arkansas passed the Community Schools Act in 2021, providing a road map for Arkansas schools to pursue community school strategies. This includes integrated student supports, expanded learning time, active family and community engagement, and collaborative leadership practices. The Community Schools Act also encourages using funding from a range of local, state, regional, and federal sources to support these initiatives.
Building a Community Schools Future in Arkansas video
Courtesy of Forward Arkansas, Batesville School District, and the National Education Association Foundation
Community Schools in Batesville, Arkansas
With seven schools serving a majority White community of 10,000 people with a 21% poverty rate, the Batesville School District was the first in Arkansas to establish a community school initiative. It has attracted considerable support and technical assistance from groups such as the National Education Association Foundation and the Harvard School of Education and serves as a model for other urban and rural communities in the South. In addition to its high instructional standards, Batesville Community Schools coordinate care beyond the classroom through collaborations with community members, non-profit organizations, and business. The model is working: 93% of Batesville students graduate from high school, compared to 84% statewide.
Click Below to Learn More About the Batesville Community School District
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