The Challenge

There can be barriers to children and youth accessing education (food insecurity, inadequate access to health and mental health services, transportation and housing, language, parents lack of opportunities and understanding on how to engage in their children’s education, and limited or no expanded and enriched learning opportunities, to name a few).

Schools, families, and communities have the opportunity to work closely together to address those types of barriers and meet mutual goals. Schools are located in communities, but often are islands with no bridges to the mainland. Families live in neighborhoods, often with little connection to each other or to the schools their youngsters attend. Neighborhood agencies and businesses have major stakes in the community. All these entities affect each other. Consequently, they share goals and can collectively maximize results for young people. But collaborating with all those entities is not easy. That’s where Rockland 21C comes in.

With helping create the conditions for learning, Rockland 21C’s community schools model brings those entities together and helps to level the playing field so that children and youth are able to access learning, parents are engaged in meaningful ways in their children’s education, teachers are empowered to concentrate on teaching, and communities are desired places to live. Consequently, our communities thrive.