Chapter 3: How Schools are Organized and Connected to Their Communities

There are different types of schools: public, private, charter, alternative, and after-school programs. These schools are located everywhere in the United States in the rural areas, urban, and suburban. The purpose of schooling is to educate all students in spite of race, color, gender, culture, and socioeconomic status.

Public schools are organized by district level in which a student is assigned to attend a school dependent upon the location in where they live. Then there is the grade-level organization which uses the age-graded approach. This approach assigns the grade level of a student according to their age which begins at Kindergarten through 12th grade. But today, children attend school as early as 3 years old which is known as the Preschool, pre-k, or even Headstart; the organization proceeds to primary and elementary, middle and junior high schools, and high schools.

The schools are connected with the community through activities, politics, businesses,issues and concerns, collaboration and cooperation, and others. Teachers are involved within their communities as part of the INTASC standard 10 which states:

The teacher fosters relationships with school colleagues, parents, and

agencies in the larger community to support students' learning and

well-being.