NATIONAL NETWORK
Launched in 2015, the University-Assisted Community Schools (UACS) National Network, housed at the University of Pennsylvania’s Netter Center, brings together higher education institutions and their partners to advance university-assisted community schools across the country. The network fosters a professional learning community of over 1,300 members from nearly 300 colleges and universities, along with school districts, unions, community organizations, and government agencies. It supports the development and strengthening of UACS through virtual meetings, conferences, technical assistance, site visits, and more. Members share strategies for mobilizing the entire university to build sustainable partnerships that integrate and strengthen research, teaching, and learning from K-16+ to advance community well-being.
What is a University-Assisted Community School?
A University-Assisted Community School (UACS) is a community school in which universities serve as the lead partner in providing broadly based, sustained support. Academic partnerships connect the university’s and school’s curricula through a focus on helping to solve local community-identified problems. This approach is designed to improve both the quality of life in the community and the quality of learning at all levels of schooling.
UACS, as well as community schools in general, are comprehensive neighborhood centers built on partnerships that educate, engage, activate and serve students, their families, and other members of the community. For neighborhood schools to function as community schools, they need additional human resources and support. Universities are particularly well-suited to be a lead partner in the creation, growth, and ongoing development of community schools, including providing academic, human, and material resources.
History of our Network
In 2015, with the increasing number of colleges and universities developing university-assisted community schools (UACS) and innovative university-school-community partnerships, the Netter Center, in collaboration with the Coalition for Community Schools, organized the University-Assisted Community Schools (UACS) National Network.
The UACS National Network has led to the development of UACS nationally. As of 2025, over 1,400 members representing nearly 300 higher education institutions are part of this professional learning community that includes not only higher education leaders, faculty and staff, but also community school partners, including schools and districts, teachers unions, community organizations, government agencies, and foundations.
24
States in the U.S.
100+
Universities
100+
Schools Impacted
