Strong school-community partnerships are essential for a world-class, 21st century education, and more and more communities across the country are creating such partnerships--from Oakland, CA, to Evansville, IN, to Hartford, CT. In this document, the Coalition for Community Schools and the National Association of School Psychologists outline nine key elements necessary for creating and sustaining effective partnerships to improve student mental health, physical health, and overall wellness. These elements include: (1) A leadership team comprised of school and community stakeholders; (2) Assets and needs assessment to address student health and wellness, and a framework for results; (3) A designated person located at the school to lead the coordination of school-community partnerships; (4) Clear expectations and shared accountability for the school and community partners; (5) High-quality health and wellness services that leverage school and community resources; (6) Ongoing comprehensive professional development for all school leaders, staff, and community partners; (7) A detailed plan for long-term sustainability; (8) Regular evaluation of effectiveness through a variety of measures; and (9) Communication plan to share progress and challenges.