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OPINION: Schools should support the whole child

February 2, 2018 By NYC Schools Chancellor Carmen Farina For Brooklyn Daily Eagle
Photo courtesy of Cagle Cartoons
Photo courtesy of Cagle Cartoons
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Providing high-quality academics and meeting the social-emotional needs of children go hand in hand. You simply can’t have one without the other. During every step of my career — from teacher to principal to superintendent — I’ve prioritized instruction and emotional supports. And, as chancellor, I’ve doubled down on this imperative for all our schools. New York City has made critical investments to deliver a comprehensive framework that increases opportunities and access to health and wellness that put students on the path to success.

We’ve put this vision into action by building a network of 227 Community Schools — an innovative strategy that transforms traditional schools into neighborhood hubs that provide services like vision screenings, mental health supports, after-school and summer programing, family activities, counseling and more. Community Schools also work directly with families to address chronic absenteeism and make sure kids are in the classroom where they can learn. Our Community Schools model is unique in that these critical services are not an “add on” to the school day; Community Based Organizations are integrated into the fabric of each school to deliver for students and families.

A recent study by the Learning Policy Institute shows that Community Schools can be an important part of improving academic achievement at high poverty schools, and we’re seeing results — test scores at Community Schools that have participated in the initiative for several years are up 11 percent for English language arts and 5 percent for math and chronic absenteeism is down by 6 percent.

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We have transformed schools into welcoming places that support students and families, where experts and educators are available to unpack challenges they may be facing and come up with tangible solutions. If students are struggling to see the front of the classroom or read a book, we give them free eyeglasses. If a family is facing immigration challenges, we connect them to lawyers. Where there is food insecurity, there are food pantries.

Public-private partnerships have been an important focus during my time as Chancellor, and through a wonderful partnership with Warby Parker, students have received more than 32,000 pairs of free glasses since 2015. Another important partnership is with Sprint to provide high school students with free Wi-Fi hotspots, so kids can complete their assignments and study outside of schools hours, helping to address the “homework gap.” Students keep these hotspots throughout their time in high school.

Community Schools also facilitate a direct connection between home and school. School staff conduct home visits and parents are invited into schools for classes and workshops. We know parents are a vital asset to public education, and we need their partnership. By working closely with parents, we’re empowering them to become leaders in the school and support their child’s learning at home.

The investments we have made in our Community Schools are common sense and make a difference, not only for the 118,000 students attending these schools, but for their families and the larger communities in these neighborhoods. By pooling the resources of entire communities and neighborhoods, whether it’s nonprofit partners, mental health counselors or parents and grandparents, we can fill in the gaps for our students and provide them with the tools they need to successfully learn.

I am proud of the progress we have made through this program to ensure that each child has an equal chance to succeed and thrive in the classroom and beyond.

 


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