Reuben Jacobson, deputy director of IEL’s Coalition for Community Schools, recently published a report with Brookings. He emphasizes that the institutions of a neighborhood are vital to its health and economic strength, and public schools are one of the most important shared institutions. They function not only as centers for providing education but also as hubs for communities to organize a range of supports and opportunities for children and their families. Community schools emerged from America’s long history of exploring schools as community hubs. The Coalition estimates that 5,000 community schools are in operation. Evidence indicates positive impacts on attendance, health, school climate, and student achievement. READ MORE…