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Albany schools report drop in chronic absenteeism as community-school partnerships expand
Summary
Director Mikaela Townsend told the board the district’s eight community schools showed improved outcomes — including a 7% decline in chronic absenteeism — while partnerships and pantry programs expanded; board members said funding is the primary barrier to adding more sites.
Mikaela Townsend, director of community schools for the Albany City School District, told the board that the district’s community-school model is reaching thousands of students and producing measurable gains.
Townsend said the program now operates at eight sites (six elementary schools and two middle schools) and highlighted results from recent evaluations: “There was a 7% decrease in chronic absenteeism across the seven community schools over three years,” and she said schools with a full-time coordinator for two or more years saw a roughly 15% reduction in chronic absenteeism. She also cited partner-supported services: 556 students received dental services through the Seal of Smile program, school pantries distributed 101,414 pounds of food last year, and Market 32 donated food and beverages to family engagement events.
Townsend described the funding picture in the district’s presentation: "Last year's community-school funding included $4,600,000 in foundation aid," with portions allocated to community schools, academic and SEL supports, and the Albany International Center. (Funding figures are those reported during the presentation.) She said United Community Schools, SUNY Albany and other local partners provide staffing support, evaluation and expanded programming, and that student volunteers and university education students supplied thousands of hours of service.
Board members praised the model’s results but noted a funding constraint to growth. Board member Wolfgang asked whether the district planned to expand community schools; Townsend replied that expansion depends on securing additional grant funding and district community-school aid. "The main piece is finding more funding to support expanding it," she said.
Several members recommended formal succession or mentoring strategies for site coordinators after hearing Townsend’s observation that sites with longer-tenured coordinators show larger decreases in absenteeism. Townsend said three coordinators are entering their third year and credited long-term coordinators with building sustained relationships that drive results.
Townsend closed by listing short-term aims: deepen SUNY Albany and Russell Sage College partnerships, strengthen family engagement programming, and seek additional grant opportunities to sustain and expand community-school staffing and services.
The board received the presentation and asked staff to return with follow-up data and options for funding or pilot expansion.
