COMMUNITY SCHOOL LEARNING EXCHANGE

How United Way of Erie County is addressing Poverty through Community Schools
Since their inception, United Ways have seen numerous changes not only to the world around them, but also to the way they impact their local communities.

Community Schools are not just places where kids go to learn math and reading. They are schools that work with families and the whole community to support kids in every way. In this article, we’ll explore what Community Schools are, how they help kids, and why they are so important for breaking down learning barriers. 

When people think of a school, they usually picture students, teachers, and principals. But what if we told you there is a whole team working behind the scenes to make sure students get what they need to succeed? That team is led by United Way, and their job is to support something called a "Community School." 

Erie High, one of the newest United Way community schools, is already making remarkable strides in creating a supportive and thriving environment for students, staff, and families.

United Way of Erie County is proud to shine the spotlight on significant progress in student attendance and chronic absenteeism among many of our community schools for the 2023-24 school year.

Thousands of students in Erie face daily hazards on their way to school, including speeding traffic, cracked sidewalks, snow piles, unleashed dogs, and crime. These dangers threaten student safety, hinder timely arrivals, and disrupt learning. United Way of Erie County and its partners are committed to helping students have a safe, hazard-free route to and from school each day.  

A new Corporate Partner Coalition is set to transform education at Grover Cleveland Elementary, a United Way community school.  This dynamic collaboration, spearheaded by United Way of Erie County, promises to drive student success and expand educational opportunities.

On June 7, 2024, to secure the Community School Model for this and future generations, United Way of Erie County today announced a $1 million donation from Erie Insurance and kicked off the public phase of an ambitious endowment campaign and special impact project.

On May 14, United Way of Erie County held our first annual Community School Student Leadership Retreat sponsored by Women United. Nearly 200 students who are members of leadership groups from 13 elementary and middle community schools came together at UPMC Park for a day of fun games and leadership skill building. 

Supporters of United Way know that community schools work to break down nonacademic barriers low-income children face keeping them from being successful in school. A child’s life circumstances can greatly impact their ability to learn and thrive.

Data-driven decision making is a guiding principle of the Community School Model. We look at attendance, behavior, academic proficiency rates and more to determine needs and measure impact – but we also place heavy emphasis on stakeholder voice.

Katie Jones, regional president for ERIEBANK, is vice chair of United Way of Erie County’s Board of Directors and a member of Women United for Community Schools. She is a longtime supporter of United Way and advocate of our work. As United Way celebrates Women’s History Month, we’d like to feature this Q&A with Katie, who is a great leader for our organization and one of our strongest champions.

United Way of Erie County spoke with Deanna McFarland, principal of Grover Cleveland Elementary, about her experience implementing the Community School Model at Grover Cleveland and the changes she has seen in school culture since becoming a community school. 

Participate in the Erie High Community-Parent survey today! We need to hear from you to understand how we can improve Erie High through the Community School Model planning process.

If a child cannot see, they cannot learn. That’s why United Way of Erie County and Erie’s Public Schools have announced the launch of Glasses2Classes for students. The program is set to launch February 20 with the first eye exams happening at East Middle School. Full schedule is attached. An estimated 7,000 students attending Erie’s Public Schools are expected to be provided with free vision screenings and glasses as necessary.

Are you interested in volunteering in Erie’s Public Schools, but haven’t had the time or ability to get all your clearances? Here is your chance! Submit an interest form and you will be contacted about joining United Way of Erie County’s FREE Clearance Clinic on Thursday, February 29  at East Middle School.

United Way’s Community schools each has its own unique approach to supporting students from other countries, targeting their specific needs. 

Impacting Change Through Data. That was the topic discussed to a crowd of nearly 80 guests at the recent Briefing for United Way's board of corporators, funding and corporate partners. Jackie Bull, Assistant Principal, McKinley Elementary provided a comprehensive look at how utilizing data and the Community School Model together are working to overcome barriers and creating positive change, including significant academic growth, for students living in one of Erie’s poorest zip codes.

United Way of Erie County and Erie’s Public Schools have announced National Fuel as the community school corporate partner for Woodrow Wilson Middle School. United Way, as the backbone organization for community schools, has worked over the last several months to build a strong partnership with National Fuel and secure their long-term support as a committed corporate partner for Wilson. 

Big changes for the students and families of Edison Elementary, a United Way of Erie County community school, are soon to come as Erie's Public Schools prepares to construct a new Edison school building.