Educating the community?

            What makes a student succeed during the k-12 years of his/her education? Many people will assume that it depends on the school system or even the students themselves. Although these have an affect on the success of students, students’ successes greatly depends on the community’s involvement within the school district.
             Representatives Marsha Farney and Eddie Rodriguez have taken a bipartisan stand for more community schools within the Texas educational system; especially lower income school districts. A community school is a term used to describe a school district, that receives funding and support from businesses and the community. For example, in 2008, Reagan High School of East Austin was declining at a substantial rate and risked an inevitable shut down. The graduation rate was less that 50 percent and was continuing to decline. If Reagan continued to fail as a school it would have been shut down, leaving a gaping hole within an already failing community. The school district adopted the community school model that promotes high academic achievement and provides support for students and their families.

            This model involves the local community of Reagan High to plan and partner with local businesses to accommodate the needs of children to learn and focus on academics without hindrances. For instance, Dell Children’s Medical Center of Central Texas partnered with Reagan High to provide on-site health care for students, increasing attendance rates dramatically since 2009. A community member noticed that the baseball field was unable to be used, so he contacted the Houston Astros and they provided a new baseball field and equipment. The community’s involvement with Reagan High has increased the graduation rate to 85 percent and doubled attendance in five years.

            Farney and Rodriguez represent areas of lower income near or around Austin and have seen the direct effects that the community school model can bring to our educational systems. It is time for us, as communities, to give more than just taxes to our educational system. We need to give a helping hand for the younger generation and expand the education opportunities to children that may be slipping through the cracks. “It’s not that kids from low-income communities can’t learn. But you can’t learn if you’re not in school because of family issues, and you can’t do your homework if your family can’t afford to pay the light bill.”