ABSTRACT
It is important that schools leverage community resources so teaching and learning can be enhanced. Community engagement promotes a school climate that connects students to a broader community. Community engagement can also help students build social capital. Schools that work with community organizations create social networks that support learning and create opportunities for young people. Community engagement can improve a school’s curriculum and curricular offerings. Many schools have academic programs that emphasize engaging and authentic problem-solving. Partnerships with community organizations facilitate the creation of an enacted curriculum that can connect what students are learning in school with the real world. Community engagement provides an authentic way for students to learn about the issues that face the community and creates opportunities for them to voice their opinions and participate in local politics and decision-making.
