​The NYC Community Schools Initiative is led by the NYC Department of Education and calls for all public agencies and community based groups that interact with young people and their families to organize themselves around the city’s 150 community schools. Mayor Bill de Blasio and Chancellor Carmen Farina have taken active roles in ensuring that community schools are a major education priority supported by an Advisory Board of key stakeholders such as the United Federation of Teachers, community organizing groups, foundations, businesses, health providers, and others. As a result, NYC community schools have seen a 7.2% reduction in chronic absenteeism, a 1.8% increase in math, and a 5.7% increase in English language in the past year.

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Community School Partners

Global Kids (GK) connects students from underserved communities with the knowledge, skills and experiences that they need to be globally aware active citizens.

Elevate New York is a high-quality youth development program accredited by the NYC Department of Education. Within school, our daily class is an elective teaching character quality and life skills to high school students who, in turn, teach neighboring elementary students the lessons they have learned. 

​Casita Maria Center for Arts & Education’s mission is to empower youth and their families by creating a culture of learning through high quality social, cultural, and education opportunities.

The Bronx is The World's Strongest Borough! from casitamariabx on Vimeo.