It all began with an idea…
…an idea that grew from a small pilot program with six schools to the largest community school network in New York City powered by a team of passionate experts, educators, administrators, social workers, parents, and community leaders who are proving every day that the community school model works.
The UFT, Partnership for NYC, Trinity Church and New York City Council officially form the NYC Community Learning Schools Initiative (eventually to become United Community Schools) with $600,000 in seed funding. Headed by UFT Vice President Karen Alford, the organization announces its first cohort of six community schools—three elementary schools and three high schools across four New York City boroughs.
Third grade teacher, National Board Certified educator, and community school advocate Kishayna Hazlewood is appointed to the governor’s task force to revamp Common Core learning standards. She brings the practitioner perspective to the task force and helps grow awareness of the NYC Community Learning Schools Initiative and its mission.
NYC Community Learning Schools Initiative joins the UFT political action effort helping to successfully lobby for a record $175,000,000 to support community school initiatives statewide.
Paving the way with extensive lobbying to change outdated regulations, the NYC Community Learning Schools Initiative opens the state’s first fully equipped, full-service school-based vision center at PS 188 in Coney Island. A second school-based health and vision center follows shortly thereafter at PS 18X in the South Bronx.
Seeking to better convey its mission and embody its expertise, the NYC Community Learning Schools Initiative changes is its name to United Community Schools and launches an award-winning new brand identity.
United Community Schools receives a prestigious $2.3 million five-year federal grant to provide mental health services, restorative practices and after-school programming at three of its Bronx schools.
United Community Schools begins offering consulting services, implementation materials, and professional learning modules to schools everywhere.