A new report by LFA and Grunwald Associates, with support from AT&T, examines how parents perceive the value of mobile devices, how they see their children using mobiles, and what they think of the possibilities for mobile learning.
A Sunny Day in Multnomah County: The SUN Community Schools Story
Story posted April, 2008. Updated December, 2011.
Results:
75 percent of participating students showed an increase in state reading scores, and 77 percent did so in math- More than 80 percent of participating seniors graduated, compared to less than 60 percent for the district
- SUN schools served nearly 18,000 youth and about 3,700 adults in enrolled programming in 2009-2010
Young people have a voice in Multnomah County, Oregon, which includes the city of Portland. When the county began planning a community school initiative, not only did young people contribute ideas, they also named it. The name they chose, Schools Uniting Neighborhoods, or SUN schools, reflects the belief that schools, working with their communities can do more than just teach math and reading, they transform neighborhoods and help young people succeed.
Multnomah is home to over 660,000 residents, including 91,327 children who attend public schools. 21% are people of color. 17% of children live in poverty and 49% of students receive free or reduced-price lunch. County demographics have shifted and diversified rapidly over the last two decades. From 1990 to 2000, the Latino population more than doubled and the Asian population increased by thirty percent. More than 80 languages are spoken by school-aged children and families. Students and families in need now live in the suburbs as well as the city of Portland.
Over the past eight years, SUN community schools have expanded from 8 to 55 schools located in the city of Portland as well as in five surrounding districts. SUN schools are operated as partnerships between schools and communit-based organizations or public agencies. The County and City support community-based organizations at each school by providing them with additional support staff and financial aid.
SUN schools help students and communities succeed by expanding the use of neighborhood schools. Programs are added for students and families before or after regular school hours, focusing on academics, recreation and enrichment. Health and social services, such as career counseling, are also provided. Many activities at a SUN School are open to the entire community. Since each school and neighborhood is unique, each SUN school looks different and will evolve over time.
SUN Schools build upon positive assets already in communities and link those with the activities offered in the school. SUN Schools tailor their events, classes, services and activities to what the local community wants, through the use of an Advisory Committee. Using an evaluation team to measure its impact, the SUN schools initiative celebrates its successes and continuously improves SUN Schools programs and their impact in the community.
Involving, serving and responding to children, families, residents throughout the county, SUN Schools have become embedded in their communities. Touching all families by making every school a community school are long-term goals for Multnomah County and for the state. The success of SUN Communty schools is illustrated by the growing demands among principals and communitites to expand SUN to their schools too.
Regularly participating students have shown strong gains in academics, attendance, behaviour and youth assets, including gaining confidence in school subjects.
Seventy percent of regular participants had increased state benchmark scores in reading and seventy one percent had increased state benchmark scores in math.
Teachers report seventy percent of students have improved homework completion rates, eighty percent have improved academic performance and 79% have a more positive attitude towards school.
December 2011 Update
SUN Community Schools continue to demonstrate their effective model after reaching the decade milestone. According to a recent NEA Priority Schools profile in their publication Family-Schools-Community Partnerships 2.0, SUN schools served nearly 18,000 youth and about 3,700 adults in enrolled programming in 2009-2010. The SUN service system now boasts 60 neighborhood schools which serve as delivery sites for students and members of the community.
Data collected for the 7,500 students who enrolled in SUN programs for 30 plus days demonstrated increased capacity in several measurements. 75 percent showed an increase in state reading scores and 77 percent in math, more than 80 percent of seniors graduated compared to less than 60 percent for the district. Finally, moving forward, leaders hope to expand the SUN initiative to all 150 county schools.
Further details about this story can be found in our source:
Coalition for Community Schools, "Multnomah County, Oregon, Community Award Winner 2007"
For additional information, please contact:
Diana Hall
School and Community Partnerships, Multnomah County Department of County Human Services
503-988-4222
diana.c.hall@co.multnomah.or.us
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