Since 2019, Boston Public Schools (BPS)  has piloted a Community School Model as an equitable school improvement strategy with 14 Boston public schools. These Community Hub Schools collaborate with local partners to provide an integrated focus on academics, health and social services, youth and community development, and family and community engagement. Community Hub Schools welcome their local community into the school and extend learning out into the community so that student learning improves and the local community flourishes. Each Hub School focuses on six key practices: 

1. Powerful Student and Family Engagement
2. Collaborative Leadership, Shared Power, and Voice
3. Expanded and Enriched Learning Opportunities
4. Rigorous, Community-Connected Classroom Instruction
5. Culture of Belonging, Safety, and Care
6. Integrated Systems of Support

BPS partnered with Root Cause to help document the impact of the first three years of the pilot. In addition to a comprehensive review of the pilot, Root Cause and BPS also developed an evaluation and strategic learning system for monitoring ongoing impact beyond the pilot phase. These tools will help each of the now 20 schools assess the extent and impact of their implementation efforts, support school and system leaders in setting improvement priorities each year, and enable all partners to align their efforts behind shared goals. 

In the current phase of work, Root Cause is partnering with Community Hub School’s staff members in using these tools to develop a detailed understanding of progress to date while also refining processes and systems for ongoing continuous improvement.

From 2024-early 2025, Root Cause conducted a comprehensive review of the first three years of Boston Community Hub Schools’ pilot implementation. To do so, Root Cause developed an assessment rubric connected to the National Center for Community Schools’ Essentials Framework, which Boston adopted to guide its implementation efforts. The rubric is now the cornerstone of an evaluation and strategic learning system, and Root Cause is working together with Community Hub Schools’ stakeholders to refine a set of tools that will support ongoing data collection, assessment, and strategic decision-making as Boston continues to expand the network of Community Hub Schools.