Dive Brief:
- After a 2011 launch, the private-public partnership "Reconnecting McDowell" is finally reporting improved student achievement by offering wraparound services in McDowell County, WV, schools.
- The collaboration includes the American Federation of Teachers in partnership with 120 nonprofits, private companies, and government agencies.
- "Reconnecting McDowell" established a community school, increased mental health and dental services, decreased the drop-out rate from 4.5% in the 2010-11 school year to just 2% for 2014-15, and increased the graduation rate from 74% to 80%.
Dive Insight:
Adopting a whole-child or whole-family approach is increasingly popular in school districts around the country. California's Hayward Unified School District also uses a holistic “community school” approach encompassing health and social services, and has reported some successes similar to Reconnecting McDowell. There, however, added flexibility with resources due to California's Local Control Funding Formula helped fund the initiative. District administrators need to be aware of the high costs of community schools, and should think creatively about funding holistic learning initiatives.
The same holds true for increased collaboration with a wide array of partners, including local businesses, nonprofits, and government officials. A recent article in The Atlantic argues by looking outside of education and partnering with private businesses, public schools can experiment and innovate in ways that could be challenging otherwise. This approach is also good for businesses, since they have a stake in helping the communities they belong to by helping advance good public education.
