California Community School Partnership Program 

The California Community Schools Partnership Program (CCSPP)  supports schools’ efforts to partner with community agencies and local government to align community resources to improve student outcomes. These partnerships provide an integrated focus on academics, health and social services, youth and community development, and community engagement. Community school strategies can be an effective approach to mitigate the academic and social impacts of emergencies that affect local communities, improve school responsiveness to student and family needs, and to organize school and community resources to address barriers to learning.

Technical Assistance System

The CCSPP is supported by a system of support that includes a Lead Technical Assistance Center known as the State Transformational Assistance CenterExternal link opens in new window or tab., (S-TAC), Regional Transformational/Technical Assistance Centers (R-TAC) and County Offices of Education. County Offices of Education, with two or more grantees in their county, receive funds to support the coordination of county-level government agencies, nonprofit community-based organizations, and other external partners to support regional community school's implementation. Ventura County is supported by the Central Coast R-TAC.

 

What is a Commmunity School?

A community school is a “whole-child” school improvement strategy where the district and school work closely with teachers, students, families, and partners.

 

 

The Four Pillars of Community Schools 

Student success can be supported by meeting their academic, physical, social-emotional, and mental health needs. Statute defines this as including the “coordination of trauma-informed health, mental health, and social services.” Effectively supporting students also requires that students be well known so that they can be well served.

Involves actively tapping the expertise and knowledge of family and community members to serve as true partners in supporting and educating students. Statute defines this as including “home visits, home-school collaboration, [and] culturally responsive community partnerships.” Learning opportunities for family members as well as structures and opportunities for shared leadership are other important elements of authentic family engagement.

Practices that establish a culture of professional learning, collective trust, and shared responsibility for outcomes in a manner that includes students, families, and community members. Statute defines this as including “professional development to transform school culture and climate that centers on pupil learning and supports mental and behavioral health, trauma-informed care, Social Emotional Learning [and] restorative justice.”

Includes academic support, enrichment, and real-world learning opportunities (e.g., internships, project-based learning). Statute refers to these opportunities as both “extended learning” and “expanded learning” and defines them as including “before and after school care and summer programs.” Expanded learning opportunities can also include tutoring and other learning supports during school hours. After-school, weekend, and summer programs provide academic instruction and individualized support.

 

Community Schools Framework

Beyond the four programmatic features, the State Board of Education approved the California Community Schools Framework at their January 2022 meeting. The Framework drives both the design for and implementation strategies of the CCSPP.

Cynthia Salas Salgado 
Community Schools Coordinator 
805.383.9359 · csalas@vcoe.org


Ventura County Office of Education
5189 Verdugo Way · Camarillo, CA 93012
www.vcoe.org

 

Jessie Juarez M.A.
Student Services Coordinator 
805.437.1528 · jjuarez@vcoe.org


Ventura County Office of Education
5189 Verdugo Way · Camarillo, CA 93012
www.vcoe.org