Boyd Center for Community Schools
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Welcome!
UT prides itself in embodying its modern land-grant mission, inspired by the “Volunteer Spirit” of service and leadership. The Boyd Center for Community Schools brings this mission to life through supporting transformational community school practices across the state of Tennessee.
After a 15-year history as the University-Assisted Community Schools initiative, supporting individual public school communities across the region, The Boyd Center for Community Schools (BCCS) debuted in July of 2024. BCCS provides technical assistance for community school implementation, external evaluation services, and serves as a convener and connector for state-wide impact, regional cooperation, and promotion of university-community partnerships, both within and beyond academe.
BCCS (1) encourages collaboration among academic researchers and community members; (2) values the multiple sources of knowledge brought and produced by academic and community partners; and (3) includes goals for both knowledge production and social action or change towards the public good (Warren et al., 2018). Our aim is to enhance community school practice and ensure the sustainability of the community school model in our region.
What are Community Schools?
The community schools model transforms a school into a community hub where educators, local community members, families, and students work together to strengthen conditions for student learning and healthy development. As partners, community schools organize school resources, supports, and opportunities so all our communities thrive.