Who We Are
About NCCS
We believe every child should feel safe, nurtured, challenged, and inspired at school and have a sense of possibility.
The Children’s Aid Society National Center for Community Schools is a practice-based technical assistance center that builds the capacity of schools, districts, and community partners to organize their human and financial resources around student success.
Since 1994, the National Center has built strategic partnerships between schools and community resources. We develop customized, evidence-based programs tailored to each school’s unique needs, addressing the challenges facing children and adolescents. Our approach enhances staff quality, strengthens after-school programming, and increases family engagement.
Experience
The National Center for Community Schools was established by Children’s Aid in 1994 to answer the nationwide call to build schools that surround students with support.
Community schools are an integral strategy in Children’s Aid’s 172-year history of putting kids on a path to success.
Since then, we have used our expertise to help communities design exceptional schools that challenge and nurture children. We are unique in that we directly operate 19 community schools and collaborate with other communities to build them. We are privileged to have worked with nearly every major community school initiative in the U.S. and beyond.
NCCS is a leader in the movement to transform schools into partnerships where every child feels safe, nurtured, challenged, and inspired and where children have a sense of belonging and possibility.
Vision
Children flourish when communities support their minds, bodies, hearts, and families.
Thriving children strengthen their communities in a virtuous cycle. Community schools are a long-term strategy to transform communities by giving students the support they need to succeed. We are working toward a more just and equitable society. The education system must counter, not perpetuate, systemic racism and oppression. We believe all children and communities deserve community schools where students feel safe, nurtured, challenged, and inspired and have a sense of possibility.
Notable History
Our beginnings.
1992: Partnering with Community Schools
Beginning in 1992, Children's Aid has operated community schools in partnership with the New York City Department of Education. Starting with the success of I.S. 218 and P.S. 5 in Washington Heights, the effort has grown to encompass 22 elementary, middle, and high schools in several of New York City's most disadvantaged neighborhoods. These partnerships draw upon a rich tradition of community schooling traced back to social reformers like John Dewey and Jane Addams, creating a powerful strategy based on current research about the supports, services, and opportunities young people need to thrive. As the only community school proponent that both teaches and consults, we leverage our 160-year history of breaking down poverty's barriers to partner with districts, community leaders, and government agencies. Drawing upon research and our own data, we continually adapt our approach, understanding that communities must tailor their schools to unique local circumstances.
1994: Creation of the National Center for Community Schools
In 1994, Children's Aid created the National Center for Community Schools to respond to increased demand for information and guidance on community schools implementation. NCCS helps communities develop the skills, relationships, financial resources, and policies needed to transform traditional public schools into community schools, drawing on our New York City practice and lessons learned from around the country. We have supported nearly every major community school initiative in the United States and beyond, while playing a central role in local and national advocacy to advance the community schools movement and highlight this approach in the broader education agenda.
Today: 50,000+ Children Served
Today, Children's Aid serves nearly 50,000 children and their families at more than 50 sites throughout New York City, helping those living in poverty to succeed and thrive. We believe all kids have limitless potential when surrounded by strong, stable families and supportive communities. Our 2,000-plus staff—teachers, social workers, coaches, mentors, and medical and mental health care providers—address every aspect of children's development as they grow, from health care to academics to sports and the arts. Because stable children live in stable families, we offer parents housing assistance, domestic violence counseling, and health care access. For 160 years, we have been knocking down the barriers that poverty creates so that children can learn, grow, and lead.
Let's Build Your Community Schools Together
With over 30 years of experience, our team can help you transform your schools.