NYS CSN Advocacy

The NYS CSN advocates to develop, promote, and sustain community schools. We do this in collaboration with government, local school districts, unions, and community partners. Through advocacy, NYS CSN works to empower policymakers and decisionmakers, uplift shared voices, and leverage community strengths and resources to remove barriers that prevent students from reaching their full potential.  We undertake these efforts while keeping equity at the forefront.

Advocacy of the NYS CSN has led to the funding of Community Schools Technical Assistance Centers across the state as well as growth of the community schools strategy statewide.  The NYS CSN has advocated for new, dedicated funding for community schools. While this has not yet been included in the final state budget, funding for community schools through the community schools set-aside has increased from $0 when the CSN was founded to $250 million. Dedicated funding of $100 million was included in one-house budgets in 2022 and 2023, though was ultimately left out of the state budget. The NYS CSN continues to advocate for this critical support for community schools.  

NYS CSN Resources to Advocate for Community Schools

• • Why Community Schools?

  • Messaging Guide Including Talking Points

  • Community Schools Evidence

  • Community Schools:  An Evidence-Based, Effective Strategy  for Reopening New York Schools

Get Involved in Advocacy

Ways to get involved:

• Join the NYS CSN in Albany to fight for community schools.

• Help rally others to join us in our fight for community schools.

• Provide a memo of support for community schools related legislation.

• Include community schools priorities in your top budget and policy priorities.

• Host a site visit for others to learn more about community schools.

• Sign up to speak at an NYS CSN event.

• Share a success story about your community schools with the NYS CSN. 

• Contact the NYS CSN to learn more about our advocacy priorities.