Community Schools as Part of Mayor de Blasio’s Equity Agenda The New York City Department of Education envisions the expansion of Community Schools as a central strategy for achieving an equitable educational system. The initiative builds off of the Department of Education’s (DOE’s) Framework for Great Schools and is aligned with the administration’s various efforts focused on youth and families, coming on the heels of expanding full-day pre-kindergarten to every four-year-old and offering after school programs to every middle schools student.

With equity as a key driver, the administration will develop the next generation of Community Schools and establish the systems and structures to ensure they address inequality in sustainable ways. The programs and interventions provided in Community Schools are evidence-based strategies to close the achievement gap by expanding opportunities for young people. They prepare students—and families—to enter school on the right foot. By increasing student time in the classroom, as well as in the local museum, on the playing field, and in the chess club, Community Schools help prepare students to be college and career ready.