New York Teacher Issue / June 15, 2013
Parents and Community Education Council members who attended a May 21 meeting sponsored by the UFT heard from a panel of Cincinnati educators about the unique community schools model they have embraced — with striking results that include a 30 percent increase in graduation rates. “The UFT put out a request for proposals for $300,000 for schools to embark on a pilot program following this model,” explained Anthony Harmon, the union’s director of community and parent outreach. The meeting, held at UFT headquarters, was a way to get out the word about the RFP so that parents who felt their child’s school is a good match could bring the idea back to their school. The response was overwhelmingly positive. Many parents said they were going to talk to their school’s principal the next day, Harmon reported. “The model will look different in every community depending on what the needs are,” Harmon said. Even if a school isn’t chosen as part of the pilot program, there are still many aspects of the model that parents can share with their children’s schools to bring about positive changes, Harmon said. The Cincinnati model includes wraparound medical and mental health services as well as after-school programs for students and after-hours programs for the community
