Full-Service Community School

Northern Elementary is part of a five-year, transformative plan to develop full-service community schools that support student and family well-being. The Kentucky Community School Initiative seeks to create better outcomes for students and to reduce barriers to learning. Twenty districts and 40 schools are in the pilot, for which the Prichard Committee secured a $47 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education. 

Each community school is a unique representation of that community’s needs and resources, therefore no two will look exactly alike. However, the statewide program does aim to embed these four pillars in each school:

• Active family and community engagement;
• Expanded and enriched learning times;
• Integrated supports;
• Collaborative leadership and practices to support high-quality teaching.

“I’m already seeing the promising impact of leveraging community assets to support students at Northern. By embracing a holistic approach to education, we’re not only shaping young minds but also laying the groundwork for brighter futures,” said Nicole Markle, program manager of the federal grant for Fayette County Public Schools.

Through trusting relationships and well-coordinated supports, all the community schools aim to ensure their students receive the health, social service, and learning opportunities they need to succeed.