East Marion Elementary School, which is located on the edge of the Ocala National Forest, will soon become the second Community Partnership School (CPS) in Marion County.
This means that students, parents, and families can enjoy a single location for school, academic success, physical, social, and emotional health, and parent/community engagement.
In addition, the CPS model is based on a strategy of long-term partnerships among core partners that include the school district, university or college, local nonprofits, and a healthcare provider, as well as community leaders who offer support, according to Marion County Public Schools.
The CPS leverages partners’ social and institutional capital, making it possible for the school to offer resources and services identified by the community. Additionally, the CPS serves neighboring communities, school families, and student needs, removing barriers to learning and providing built-in support to help students achieve academic success and lifelong prosperity.
CPS will grow and build to offer extended services, hours, and relationships, while also providing safe spaces for participants to study, learn, live, connect, and thrive, according to MCPS.
In 2021, College Park Elementary was named Marion County’s first Community Partnership School. Thanks to the community’s combined efforts, College Park Elementary improved its attendance, academic achievement, and physical and mental well-being for its students and families. Staff members at the school even credited the partnership for students learning and thriving.
Due to this success, local leaders announced on Thursday that East Marion Elementary will become the area’s second Community Partnership School. MCPS stated that East Marion is one of just eight new CPS schools statewide this year.
East Marion will now receive a planning grant to replicate the CPS model on its campus. The University of Central Florida and the State of Florida have allocated an $80,000 planning grant to the United Way of Marion County to coordinate the program.
Community partners for this project include the United Way of Marion County, the College of Central Florida, Hearth of Florida Health Center, HCA Florida Ocala Hospital, MCPS, and the Public Education Foundation of Marion County.
East Marion Elementary School is located at 14550 NE 14th Street Road in Silver Springs.
For more information, contact the MCPS Public Relations Office or the United Way of Marion County at 352-732-9696.