Closing the Gap between School & Community Partnerships, A Needs Assessment in Indianapolis, 2021

Abstract

Our children spend a significant amount of time in school – and success in school sets the foundation for successful careers and contribution to our communities. However, in recent decades, we have seen what the disinvestment to public education has done to individual schools and school systems. The past year, during the Covid-19 global pandemic, schools have faced even more challenges, navigating school closures, virtual learning, and hybrid models. Research clearly connects multiple external factors and academic success. With a global pandemic layered onto limited funding and capacity, schools continue to struggle to provide the supports students and their families need to address the challenges and struggles reflected in the classroom. In 2018, the Education Action Team of Marion County’s Early Intervention Planning Council launched an assessment to identify the issues impeding student success from the perspective of school personnel. Additionally, we sought to identify barriers to building stronger partnerships with community resources. Marion County, Indiana is resource rich but systems poor – our community lacks a cohesive network of community services for schools to tap into, thus teachers and staff navigate a fragmented system. Through an online survey, three community conversations, and key informant interviews, we were able to identify key findings that can inform strategic actions moving forward to strengthen the ability of schools to meet student needs – whether they develop within the classroom or not. Our findings show some of the top issues impacting student success are challenges that all exist outside of the school building: • Social and Emotional Health • Trauma and Violence • Mental Health • Chronic Absenteeism • Social Media and Internet School staff are often left trying to address the symptoms of these complex, adaptive challenges, yet they do not have the capacity to fully tackle the root causes nor should they be expected to do so alone. This emphasizes the need to build strong partnerships with community resources, in addition to building the capacity of school personnel to carry out effective solutions inside the classroom. Moreover, schools realize that family engagement is a proactive strategy to support students and building trust with families is paramount. Stronger school-community partnerships and networks will more effectively work towards the systems change necessary to support learning. The recommendations put forth in this report work across multiple levels to provide holistic solutions to the complex problems discussed in our findings from the assessment. Schools and community organizations can join us in taking the necessary steps to building supportive community networks around our schools and advocating for the investment needed to create safe, healthy learning environments for our children.