UACS National Network Conference Fall 2026
Free, In-Person Conference
University-Assisted Community Schools (UACS): Democratic Partnerships that Improve Neighborhoods, Schools, and Universities
DATE:
Monday, October 26th and Tuesday, October 27th, 2026
LOCATION:
Houston Hall, University of Pennsylvania
3417 Spruce St, Philadelphia, PA 19104
OVERVIEW:
Join us in Philadelphia October 26-27 for “University-Assisted Community Schools (UACS): Democratic Partnerships that Improve Neighborhoods, Schools and Universities,” a free, in-person conference hosted at the University of Pennsylvania.
The conference is open to all University-Assisted Community Schools (UACS) partners, including school, union, university, nonprofit, foundation, neighborhood, and government partners. Through interactive plenaries and breakout sessions, participants will share promising practices, learn from one another’s experiences, and build connections with colleagues from across the country.
Monday morning will focus on “Realizing the Promise of Community-Engaged Scholarship through University-Assisted Community Schools,” and explore how colleges and universities can serve as long-term institutional anchors for community schools by creating democratic partnerships rooted in the core research, teaching and learning missions of K-12 schools and higher education. Community Engaged Scholarship leaders will discuss academic partnerships that connect university and school curricula through solving community-identified problems, with the goals of improving both quality of life in community school neighborhoods and the quality of teaching and learning at all levels of schooling.
The conference will feature thematic plenaries and breakout discussions highlighting K-16+ partnerships in areas such as college and career attainment, STEM education, the environment, physical and mental health, and more. Participants will have opportunities to attend site visits at UACS in West Philadelphia or see UACS programming on the University of Pennsylvania campus.
Meals will be provided on Monday and Tuesday. Registration is required as space is limited.
This bi-annual conference is sponsored by Penn’s Netter Center for Community Partnerships and its University-Assisted Community Schools National Network.
AGENDA AT A GLANCE
Monday, October 26th
8:00am - 9:00am | Registration and Breakfast
9:00am - 9:15am | Conference Welcome
9:15am - 11:45am | "Realizing the Promise of Community-Engaged Scholarship through University-Assisted Community Schools"
11:45am - 12:45pm | Lunch with Optional Roundtable Discussion Topics
12:45pm - 2:00 pm | Plenary: “Research that Advances Knowledge by Improving Community Schools -- Do We Need an Implementation Revoluation?”
2:15pm - 3:30pm | Breakout Sessions 1
3:45pm - 5:00pm | Breakout Sessions 2
5:00pm - 6:30pm | Reception
Tuesday, October 27th
8:00am - 9:00am | Registration and Breakfast
9:00am - 10:00am | Plenary: “Community Schools: Understanding the Past to Shape the Future -- A Conversation with Laura Bronstein and Ira Harkavy"
10:15am - 11:30am | Breakout Sessions 3
11:30am - 12:45pm | Lunch
12:45pm - 2:00pm | "Plenary: Lessons, Progress, and Next Steps: University-Assisted Community Schools Regional Training Centers”
2:00pm - 2:15pm | Closing Remarks
2:45pm - 5:30pm | Site Visits
*Site visit seating limited. Registration is required for site visits in the designated section of the registration form
CALL FOR PROPOSALS
We invite conference participants to propose and facilitate interactive breakout sessions that foster open dialogue, shared learning, and exchange across a range of UACS topics. Those interested in leading a session may submit a proposal through the designated section of the registration form.
Please submit proposals by September 9th. Selected sessions will be confirmed in mid September.
ACCOMMODATIONS
Accommodation options, transportation information, and campus maps can be found at this link.
REGISTRATION
Please register for the conference by completing this Registration Form.
Submitting the form confirms your registration for the conference. If you are no longer able to attend after registering, please email Mya Gordon at myag@sas.upenn.edu.
Please reach out to Cory Bowman (bowman@upenn.edu), Naorah Rimkunas (rimkunas@binghamton.edu), and Mya Gordon (myag@sas.upenn.edu) with any questions about the conference.