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Reports and Publications ::
2003 Report
Development of Carlin Springs Community School
One of the Partnership's primary goals is improving school readiness and success. In 2000-2001, a Partnership work group identified the community school model as a key strategy to address school success. Using the public school as a hub, community schools offer a range of academic, health, social, and emotional supports to students and their families. In early 2002, the Partnership formed a committee to continue researching community school models and to identify a pilot school to implement the model in Arlington.
In early 2003, the Partnership formed a relationship with the Coalition for Community Schools, which offers experience in best practices from community schools nationwide and insight gained from recently conducted evaluations of 20 exemplary community school initiatives. Community school outcomes documented in these evaluations include not only improved grades and standarized scores, but also improved attendance, fewer discipline issues, improved family access to health and mental health services, improved family participation in schools, improved family stability, and increases in community support.
Carlin Springs Elementary School was chosen as the pilot site in Arlington based on its history of strong community partnerships and because it presents the opportunity to make measurable gains in student academic success and family access to needed supports. Carlin Springs is located in Arlington's 22204 zip code, described in the Brookings Institute report A World in a Zip Code as the most ethnically diverse in the Washington D.C. metro area. The School describes itself as "an international community of families supported by dedicated, caring, experienced staff members." The total 2003-2004 student population is 535 students (this includes four pre-school classrooms). The school's ethnic breakdown is as follows:
- 14% Asian/Pacific Islander
- 16% Black (this includes African)
- 62% Hispanic
- 8% White
Virtually all of the students and their families will benefit from the range of services and activities offered at the school. Eighty four percent of the children at Carlin Springs are eligible for Free and Reduced Lunch and 349 students receive support for English as a second language. The poverty rate in the census tracts served by Carlin Springs ranges from 18-30%.
The Partnership, acting as the lead entity behind the community school initiative, has convened a comprehensive group of partners, including Arlington Public Schools; Arlington County's Department of Human Services (including experts in school health, child and family mental health and substance abuse prevention, and multi-cultural services); and a host of community non-profits and businesses, many of whom already partner with the school. For example, E-trade bank employees serve as regular lunch buddies to students and the Greenbrier Learning Center provides after-school tutoring, homework support, and summer camp activities to Carlin Springs students at a nearby church. In addition, students visit senior citizens at nearby Brighton Gardens, and the seniors attend school music assemblies.
Activities Underway at Carlin Springs
Carlin Springs Community School is being developed through a steering committee comprised of school staff, parents, community members, and current and potential community partners. The ultimate goal of the project is to enhance school readiness and academic achievement. As the first step toward this goal, the steering committee has initiated activities that connect parents to their child's school and offer resources to families through a relationship-based approach. These are described below.
Parent Information and Referral Center. While there are many services and supports provided to low income, immigrant, and vulnerable families in Arlington, many do not know about these services and how to access them. E-Trade Bank has committed funds for a part-time position to staff a Parent Information and Referral Center beginning in January 2004. The bilingual Center staff person will talk with parents, assess their needs, and link them to supports around housing, employment, public assistance, English classes, driver's licenses, and more. By starting this on a part-time pilot basis, we hope to secure federal grant funding for a full-time person next year.
Home Visiting. This family outreach activity builds on the success of ten home visits completed last year. Teachers identify students who need extra attention and offer to visit the family. They bring scrapbooking supplies to the home and share photos, histories and traditions with the family. The students bring the completed scrapbooks to school to share with their class. These visits serve as a family literacy activity, and can boost the student's self-esteem. During the visits, school staff also learn more about the families and any challenges they may face. Through this strengthened relationship, the door is opened to the family to access opportunities and resources through the school and its community partners. Families who have been visited are very positive about the experience.
Library Nights. The school library is now open every Thursday night for a series of regular events for Carlin Springs school families. A special effort is made to reach isolated families that may not be connected to the school or larger network of community support. Library Nights feature adult computer classes for parents in four-week cycles, coupled with a homework club/literacy workshop for the children. The Urban Alternative is providing the computer instructor. Younger children are provided child care. The first 4-week cycle, completed in December 2003, was attended by over 30 parents and their children. Between sessions of the computer classes, Library Nights offer educational/informational workshops for parents on such topics as how to sign up for family health insurance through FAMIS or Medicaid, and community resources available to families (child care, after school programs, summer camps, crisis assistance, housing assistance, employment, etc.).
The Partnership is currently seeking funding to provide stipends for staff who are volunteering their time for home visits, library nights, and other activities.
Outreach to Families of Preschoolers. The Steering Committee is exploring playgroups and outreach to parents of preschoolers. Project Family has agreed to start a group in this community, as well.
Other Outreach Activities. In October 2003, 32 Carlin Springs teachers rode the buses home with their students and visited three community sites where the children spend out-of-school time: Arlington Mill, the Greenbrier Learning Center, and Harvey Hall. This tour gave the teachers tremendous new insight into the community network and the fuller context of their students' lives. Ben Harris of the Urban Alternative organized the tour.
Jenny Lindenauer and Esmeralda Galeas, the Carlin Springs parent and community liaisons, have been standing at the bus stops on early release Wednesdays to connect informally with parents, ascertain their needs, and build a greater safety net for the children. In 2004, Chris Sutton, the school principal, will begin hosting regular Friday morning coffees to encourage more parents to drop in and feel comfortable at the school.
Supports to Students and Their Families Through Partnerships
DHS Child and Family Services has reallocated a staff person to Carlin Springs one day a week for substance abuse prevention and mental health counseling with groups and individual children and their families. DHS prevention staff are also planning to offer parent education classes for Carlin Springs parents.
The Steering Committee has begun discussions with the DHS School Health Bureau concerning additional health-related supports for this community.
After-school activities for Carlin Springs students are offered through the Greenbrier Learning Center and Arlington Mill Community Center. And over 100 volunteers from area businesses act as "lunch buddies" with students on a weekly basis, mentoring the children, helping with homework, reading, special projects, etc.
The Partnership is currently seeking funding for a full-time Coordinator position to sustain these and other supports for the Carlin Springs Elementary Community School pilot. The Partnership plans to evaluate the Carlin Springs pilot for potential replication at other Arlington Schools.
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