Leading the way in lifelong learning through research-based educational solutions that strengthen family-school-community partnerships.
CSC Spotlight
Share Your Expertise at the 2026 Paving the Way to Educational Success Conference
Apply by Aug. 2 to present
The 2026 Paving the Way to Educational Success Conference is accepting applications for presenters and, new this year, panelists. Help advance educational stability and success for students experiencing homelessness and students in foster care by sharing your expertise.
The conference committee is seeking presentations and panel discussions featuring practical strategies, innovative programs, collaboration, student well-being, and promising practices that strengthen outcomes for students and families. Educators, community partners, parents and caregivers, housing and shelter providers, and individuals with lived experience are encouraged to apply.
Questions about Act 1 of 2022? Visit our FAQ page!
Act 1 of 2022 helps ensure students experiencing educational instability have the support they need to stay engaged in school and graduate on time. The law requires Pennsylvania school entities to identify eligible students, remove barriers to academic and extracurricular participation, and provide individualized supports that promote educational stability and success. The Pennsylvania Department of Education and CSC are committed to helping schools accurately identify eligible students and implement the requirements of Act 1.
Our FAQ page provides answers to common questions, including:
Which students are eligible for Act 1 protections?
What responsibilities do school entities have under Act 1?
Research and Evaluation Group Spotlight: PASSHE Professional Development Organization
Center for Schools and Communities offers a full complement of research and evaluation services to school districts, state agencies, nonprofits and foundations and will bring extensive experience and training to every phase of your research and evaluation project, including consultations to improve the operation of existing projects. The Research and Evaluation (R&E) Group at CSC applies a wide range of methods and tools to give stakeholders insights into these foundational indicators.
Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) Professional Development Organization: Thousands of early childhood educators rely on the R&E Group’s PDO case management system to track their academic progress. For over five years, the system has provided a web-based application for students to receive grants, a robust interface for program staff to monitor and log students’ course completions, numerous live reports and secure authentication protocols to ensure data integrity. Additionally, the system provides a consolidated platform for communicating with students and evaluating factors that relate to their progress.
Center for Schools and Communities provides comprehensive services to build organizational capacity. We work closely with local education agencies, community-based organizations and state and local departments to strengthen systems. We help our clients increase their knowledge, awareness and skills by providing high quality professional learning opportunities, research and evaluation design, and customized consultation. Our knowledgeable staff has a diverse array of expertise and skills in school safety, youth violence prevention, out-of-school time, family-community-school partnerships and positive youth development. We will work with you to review, develop and implement plans to meet your needs and identify effective strategies designed to transform lives.
