Are Community Schools the Last, Best Shot at Addressing Education Inequity?
In Montgomery County, Maryland, Tiffany Allen and her husband initially hesitated to enroll their children in Wheaton Woods Elementary due to its reputation as a Title I school serving predominantly low-income, Hispanic families with below-average academic performance. Despite concerns, they enrolled their daughters, eventually embracing the schoolʼs transformation under a state-mandated Blueprint for Community Schools.
The Blueprint aimed to uplift schools in impoverished areas by providing extra funding and support, targeting systemic issues like poverty and racism. Wheaton Woods, among 34 designated community schools, implemented various programs and services, including Excel Beyond the Bell after-school activities and summer camps, catering to working families like the Allens.
Central to the success of community schools was Daysi Castro, the liaison who coordinated partnerships with local nonprofits and county agencies. These partnerships offered an array of services, from dental care to employment training, addressing diverse family needs. Such initiatives aimed to bridge the achievement gap prevalent in Montgomery County, where racial disparities in academic performance persisted despite overall academic success.
Principal Daman Harris helmed a shift in leadership philosophy, emphasizing collaboration with families and staff. Challenges arose, for example some teachers resisted relinquishing control and some people pushed back at the need for cultural responsiveness in curriculum and services. Nonetheless, community input drove program development, fostering a sense of belonging and cultural affirmation among families.
Proponents of the model like Castro and Harris were optimistic that it would prove to be a useful model for other schools. They predicted that sustained efforts would yield measurable improvements in student outcomes, reinforcing the importance of community engagement in reshaping education equity.
Ultimately, the success of the community schools approach rested on its ability to empower families, nurture partnerships, and challenge traditional leadership paradigms. As Montgomery County schools navigated toward a more inclusive and responsive educational model, parents like Tiffany Allen spoke of the vital role of such initiatives in fostering engagement and opportunity for all students.
🔭 This summary was human-edited with AI-assist.
