32: Measuring What Matters: Reimagining Evaluation for Community Schools

As community schools continue to expand, how can we better evaluate their impact in ways that reflect their values, complexity, and long-term contributions? This session invites educators, coordinators, evaluators, funders, and advocates to join an informal discussion about the future of community school evaluation. Together, we’ll explore how data, stories, and community voice can work together to show the full value of community schools—from improved academic and nonacademic outcomes to stronger partnerships and systems change. We'll consider both the opportunities and challenges in aligning evaluation with the goals of Full-Service Community Schools (FSCS) federal grants, local policy advocacy, and sustainability planning. Participants will be invited to share tools, questions, and experiences from their own work, with space to network and problem-solve together. Whether you're designing an evaluation plan or trying to make the case for your work, come join a conversation about how we reclaim and communicate our collective impact.