Early learning and partnerships are the focus for a
‘Community in Schools’ review for the Abbotsford Board
of Education. As part of the district’s Strategic Plan goal to
improve community/parent engagement, the Board
commissioned an
in-depth review of community
partnerships. The primary goal was to discover ways to
improve upon best practices for community-based
collaboration. More specifically the review was in direct
response to two Strategic Plan actions:
• Review early learning programs; and
• Review community programm
(Community in Schools’CiS’– is the term used to
describe the many partnerships between schools and
local businesses, service agencies and/or community
organizations.) The review was established to determine
if the
co-location of family and student support services in
schools across the district is enabling more students to
experience success. The report, A Review of Community in
Schools: Partnerships Supporting Children and Youth in
Abbotsford Schools, outlined three key areas: Early
Learning, Formal Partnership Models, and Community
Partnerships. Conducted by retired superintendent Anne
Cooper, the review involved several months
face-to-face interviews with community organizations, school
principals and school and district staff, and resulted in a
number of recommendations. The review can be read
online via www.sd34.bc.ca/board/consultations