Community Schools
Community Schools are public schools that bring together educators, families, and community partners to create strong, supportive learning environments. Community Schools focus on whole-child development by addressing academic, social, emotional, and physical needs to help every student thrive.
Through expanded learning opportunities, integrated support services, and shared leadership, Community Schools strengthen connections between schools and families while empowering students to succeed both inside and outside the classroom.
Selma Unified’s Community Schools initiative is dedicated to fostering collaboration, promoting equity, and ensuring that all students and families have access to the resources and opportunities they need to grow and succeed.
FOUR PILLARS OF COMMUNITY SCHOOLS
In order to achieve transformational student outcomes, The California Community Schools Partnership Program (CCSPP) Framework leans heavily on the four established pillars of the community schools movement. Specifically, community schools are defined in statute as public schools with “strong and intentional community partnerships ensuring pupil learning and whole child and family development,” including the following features:
Integrated Student Support
- Meeting academic, physical, social-emotional and mental health needs
- Coordination of trauma-informed health, mental health, and social services
"Students must be well-known so that they can be well-served."
Extended Learning Time and Opportunities
- Academic support, enrichment, and real-world learning opportunities
- Before and after school care and summer programs
- “Extended” learning and “expanded” learning
- Tutoring and other learning supports during the traditional school day
Collaborative Leadership Practices for Educators and Administrators
- Culture of professional learning, collective trust, and shared responsibility for outcomes
- Professional development to support mental and behavioral health, trauma-informed care, social-emotional learning, restorative justice, and other key areas.
- Dedicated staff to support and facilitate partnerships, and discover professional development opportunities to build capacity for collaborative education and community leadership structures and practices
Family and Community Engagement
- Actively tapping the expertise and knowledge of family and community members to serve as true partners
- Home visits, home-school collaboration, culturally responsive community partnerships
- Develop trusting, inclusive, and collaborative relationships with families and community members
“If it is not developed with us, it is not for us.”
We’re here to support our families and we encourage our community to connect with local resources for support. The Central California Food Bank offers a helpful Food Locator tool. Click here and enter your ZIP code to find nearby food distribution sites. You can also view their Food Distribution Calendar to find times and locations across the Fresno County region.
Additionally, you may use FoodFinder.us to search for food distribution sites by city or ZIP code.
Families can also dial 2-1-1 to be connected with a range of essential services, including food assistance, housing resources, and wellness programs. These free and confidential resources are available 24/7 to help ensure no family goes without the support they need.