A big win for The Los Angeles Trust for Children’s Health
Student Advisory Board members set up peer to peer student health campaign.
The L.A. Trust is thrilled to announce that it will be part of a $4 billion investment in the newly launched California Community Schools Partnership Program (CCSPP). The Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE) Community Schools Initiative invited The L.A. Trust and UCLA’s Center for the Transformation of Schools (CTS) to partner in a bid to become one of the eight Regional Technical Assistance Centers in the state to receive funding. It was announced last November that our proposal was awarded as part of $58 million in contracts.
These historic grants will strengthen current County Offices of Education efforts to grow community schools by providing technical assistance in everything from fundraising to setting up peer-to-peer student health campaigns. Schools that wish to transition to community schools (and who need guidance in applying for funds to do so), as well as schools that have already begun functioning as community schools, are eligible for this technical assistance.
As the community schools movement takes hold, many are wondering what differentiates a community school from a charter, a traditional, or other type of school. A community school serves as a hub for the community, providing educational and social services to students and their families. Community schools often have partnerships with local organizations, businesses, and government agencies to provide services such as health care, counseling, and after-school programs. These schools aim to support the whole child and address the non-academic barriers to learning that students may face, such as poverty, lack of access to healthcare, and inadequate housing.
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond said. “These Regional Technical Assistance Centers (RTACs) will work on the ground with local educational agencies and school sites to provide essential guidance. This is the moment for us to double down on our commitment to transform public education through the implementation of the CCSPP."
Community schools are a key initiative of California’s historic transformation of public schools that includes universal free school meals; universal transitional kindergarten; before- and after-school learning; and investments in teacher training, coaching, recruitment, and retention.
Community schools have existed for years, but the CCSSP is California’s first statewide initiative to provide funding, support, and standardization of the program through common guiding pillars: integrated services, including trauma-informed health services; expanded learning time and opportunities; collaborative leadership and practices for educators and administrators to support school climate; and engaging students, families, and the community.
Research shows that community schools can result in better school attendance, better grades and test scores, higher enrollment in college-prep classes, and higher graduation rates. The L.A. Trust is grateful for the vote of confidence from LACOE and the opportunity to increase our service footprint. We are excited and inspired to expand and implement our mission. Let’s get to work!