Our Process
Schools apply to be part of the Communities In Schools of Chicago network and go through a selective application and interview process.

Once the school is part of our network, Communities In Schools of Chicago works directly with each school partner to connect services and build their capacity to create effective partnerships that will provide significant long-term benefits for students.

With our network of 159 partner schools, we help school staff identify student priorities, find community resources and coordinate services that address needs.

We also work with school staff to develop a broad range of skills that enable them to create and sustain relationships with community partners.

Our School Partnership Model
Communities In Schools of Chicago partners with 159 schools representing 61 of Chicago’s 77 neighborhoods. In 147 schools, we work with school staff to build their capacity to create effective partnerships that will provide long-term benefits for students. For the past three years, in order to reach more students with critically needed services, Communities In Schools of Chicago has piloted an affiliate partnership with 12 additional schools.

In 147 schools, Communities In Schools of Chicago supports the development of a set of skills that enable school staff to create and sustain meaningful community partnerships. This skill set includes:

• Identifying students’ top priorities;
• Coordinating programs and services;
• Communicating effectively with partners;
• Evaluating programs and services to gauge impact; and
• Cultivating and appreciating community partners.

In 12 schools we work with school staff on a less intensive basis, connecting high-capacity agencies that offer programs addressing a set of core student needs. These affiliate schools have access to Communities In Schools of Chicago staff for service referrals and basic coordination support and are included in select training and networking events.

Learn more about how Communities In Schools of Chicago impacts our school partners