OVERVIEW
>> SUN Community School Overview [PDF]
SUN Community Schools (SUN CS) was founded by the City of Portland, OR and Multnomah County, OR in 1999 as a partnership of city, county, state, and schools. In 2004, SUN CS became part of the broader SUN Service System. The SUN Service System is an aligned system of care providing social and support services to youth, individuals and families that lead to educational success and self-sufficiency. Within the SUN Service System, SUN Community Schools are the school-based service delivery site for a comprehensive set of services including educational, enrichment, recreational, social and health services.
SUN Community Schools transform schools into community learning centers. They link with other community institutions, such as the libraries, parks and community centers, neighborhood health clinics and area churches and businesses.
SUN Community Schools
- Extend the school day and broaden the educational resources for the community.
- Bring and coordinate services to the community.
- Bring the community together to break down isolation and strengthen families.
- Build relationships across generations, cultures and incomes.
How Do SUN Community Schools Work?
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SUN Community Schools have a non-district Lead Agency (nonprofit or community organization) that acts as managing partner for the SUN CS effort.
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The Lead Agency hires a full-time SUN CS Site Manager at each site. The hiring and supervision of the Site Manager is done jointly with the school principal.
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SUN CS Site Managers build and bring networks of services, classes and volunteers together to benefit youth, families and the community. They coordinate these services and make sure they link to the academic school day, using a strategic annual planning process.
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SUN Community Schools tailor their events, classes, services and activities to what the local community wants, through the use of an advisory body or bodies.
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SUN Community Schools build upon positive assets already in communities and link those with the activities offered in the school.
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SUN Community Schools bring together schools, community leaders and agency professionals to plan the best ways to support youth – in education, family involvement, and the community, providing services and making good use of community buildings.
Size & Location
There are currently 59 SUN Community Schools across 6 school districts. This includes 23 elementary, 13 middle, 17 K-8, and 6 high schools.
SUN Community Schools serve a wide age group - from preschoolers to seniors - with the majority of those served falling between the ages of 5 and 19 (the students).
Primary Activities
Though there is a broad range of activities provided at the SUN Community schools, SUN's primary activities are considered to be:
- Extended-day academic and enrichment programs that are linked with the school day
- Family Involvement and strengthening programs
- Health and Social Services for the students, families and community
- Community events
- Adult Education
Governance
The SUN CS model is for governance to be site-based with the following structure:
- Operating Team: principal, site manager and lead agency
- Site Partners Team: representing all the entities in the school that work with the students
- Site Advisory Body: with broad representation from the school, youth, families and community
This structure is tailored at the school level to best ensure that the critical roles are fulfilled.