California Department of EducationNews Release Release: #24-28May 8, 2024 Contact: CommunicationsE-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.: 916-319-0818 SACRAMENTO—State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond announced that the California State Board of Education (SBE) approved $1.3 billion in community schools implementation grants today as proposed by the California Department of Education (CDE). Today’s approval marks the continued expansion and third cohort of the California Community Schools Partnership Program (CCSPP), which has become the largest single investment in community schools anywhere in the nation. Today’s cohort builds on successful efforts to accelerate student learning by integrating academics, health and social services, and family and community engagement to improve the achievement and wellness of children by serving the whole child and the whole family. “Our Community Schools strategy is fundamentally about breaking down barriers in order to unlock the brilliance of every child,” Thurmond said. “Our community schools grantees build strategic partnerships with service providers in their area, which leads to an incredible return on investment for our students and families. And by remaining committed to transformative outcomes for our students, our community schools have become leaders in not only identifying the barriers that hold kids back but also creating innovative solutions that effectively support children to learn and thrive.” With a total investment of $4.1 billion, the CCSPP is the nation’s largest investment in the community schools model and represents the first comprehensive rethinking of the role of schooling since the end of the Cold War. Community schools partner with education, county, and other nonprofit entities to provide integrated health, mental health, and social services alongside high-quality, supportive instruction with a strong focus on community, family, and student engagement. COMMUNITY SCHOOLS HIGHLIGHT: Fresno Unified In Fresno Unified, CCSPP dollars have funded food and clothing pantries, family resource fairs, and Community School Coordinators for each site alongside innovative transportation solutions for students who are late for the school bus. These efforts have resulted in increased average daily attendance, increased family engagement, and elevation of parent and teacher voice. With today’s vote by the SBE, the CDE is awarding community schools grants that account for more than $1.3 billion in total. The list of awardees is available through the May 8, 2024, SBE Agenda (DOCX). This allocation is in addition to more than $1.3 billion in implementation grants in 2021 and 2022 to 204 local educational agencies and 1,028 school sites. The CDE plans to administer a final round of implementation grants during the 2024–25 school year. Thurmond sponsored community schools legislation in 2019 and, since the passage of the Community Schools Partnership Act, the CDE has continued to pioneer efforts that support the whole child and transform public education. Thurmond has championed community schools for almost 20 years, first as a school board member in West Contra Costa Unified, where he authored the resolution that made the entire district a full-service community schools district, and then as a California Assembly Member, where he supported community schools legislation. Now, as State Superintendent, Thurmond leads the largest community schools implementation...
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