Community schools – which offer a variety of supports to serve the comprehensive needs of students, families and their communities – have dramatically expanded in the U.S. in recent years, with more than 5,000 now operating nationwide.

In a new study, researchers from the RAND Corporation examined the implementation and impacts of the New York City Community Schools Initiative, the largest program of its kind in the nation. The study, coauthored by RAND’s William Johnston, found that the initiative has had positive impacts on a range of outcomes, including student attendance and grade progression.

Johnston joins CPRE Knowledge Hub managing editor Keith Heumiller to discuss his team’s findings, and some key takeaways for community school policymakers, school leaders, researchers and other stakeholders.

Featured Research: Johnston, William R., John Engberg, Isaac M. Opper, Lisa Sontag-Padilla, and Lea Xenakis, Illustrating the Promise of Community Schools: An Assessment of the Impact of the New York City Community Schools Initiative. City of New York, 2020.