Oct 2025

CDE Cohort 4 Welcome Webinar

On September 24, the California Department of Education (CDE) hosted the official welcome webinar for Cohort 4 CCSPP Grantees. During this session, the CDE team introduced the partners that make up the State Transformational Assistance Center (S-TAC), including the Sacramento County Office of Education (SCOE), National Education Association (NEA), UCLA Center for Community Schooling, and Californians for Justice.

The S-TAC serves as the primary technical assistance hub for the California Community Schools Partnership Program (CCSPP). Its partner organizations bring together deep expertise in distinct but complementary aspects of community schools, ranging from instructional practices and family engagement to equity-driven leadership and systemic change. Collectively, the team will provide ongoing guidance to the eight Regional Technical Assistance Centers (RTACs) across California. In addition to supporting implementation at the regional level, the S-TAC will also help identify and elevate best practices statewide to ensure that the community schools initiative can be scaled up and sustained beyond the life of the grant awards.

As part of the welcome webinar, each region participated in a 40-minute breakout session with its designated RTAC team. These smaller sessions provided an opportunity for grantees to connect directly with their regional hub, learn more about the scope of technical assistance, and begin building relationships for the years ahead. In the Central Coast Region, grantees met with the Central Coast RTAC team, which is based at the Monterey County Office of Education in Salinas, California. The team offered introductions, shared their mission, and provided an overview of the supports and resources available to grantees.

The Central Coast RTAC team serves as the technical assistance hub for CCSPP grantees located in Monterey, Santa Cruz, San Benito, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura Counties. Through ongoing coaching, professional learning, and cross-county collaboration opportunities, the team will work alongside districts and schools to strengthen implementation and ensure that community schools thrive across the region.

For more information related to this presentation and the Central Coast RTAC team, check out these resources:

CDE presentation - forthcoming

RTAC presentation

Central Coast RTAC website

Caption: The State Technical Assistance Center (STAC) team members

CCSPP Framework flipbook (17 pgs) The California Community Schools Partnership Program (CCSPP) Framework is a guiding document created by the California Department of Education (CDE) and the State Board of Education (SBE). It was adopted in July 2022 to help schools, districts, and counties design, implement, and sustain high-quality Community Schools across California.

CCSPP Capacity Building Strategies (25 pgs). This resource will support Community School Coordinator/Leads' understanding of the Capacity Building strategies to support APR conversations with Advisory Council members and other stakeholders/educational partners.

CCSPP Back-to-School District Leadership

Team meetings

Caption: District leaders reflect on their roles and identify strategies to strengthen Community School efforts.

Central Coast RTAC partner Inflexion supported Back-to-School District Leadership team meetings that occurred across the Central Coast region.

Site administrators gained powerful insight into the community schools' approach thanks to RTAC partner, Inflexion. “The state made an intentional decision to support students in California through a community schools approach and strategy,” shared Manuel Colón, Chief Program Officer at Inflexion. “They wanted to figure out what we can do to help our schools.”

The sessions introduced the pillars, conditions for learning, cornerstone commitments, and proven practices that guide this work. At its core, the community schools model is a focused effort to ensure students and families have access to the resources they need to thrive. It also provides our District with an opportunity to come together, strengthen each school site, and grow as a collective community.

Caption: District Community School Manager, Yvette Ramos, connects with El Sausal Middle School Principal, Mr. Huerta.

District staff reflected on what excites them most about this journey, as well as the challenges they anticipate along the way. The day was filled with thoughtful dialogue, hope, and momentum.

“This is a huge opportunity for the city to embrace this implementation,” Colón emphasized. “You have the opportunity to articulate your system from TK through graduation and to look at this as a catalyst for change and transformation in this city.”

Sessions took place locally, at the following districts:

*Hueneme ESD in Ventura County

*Santa Paula USD in Ventura County

*Fillmore USD in Ventura County

*Salinas Union HSD in Monterey County

*Alisal USD in Monterey County

These sessions provided an excellent start to the new school year, offering practical insights and meaningful opportunities for connection. Teams are excited about continuing to collaborate, share ideas, and learn together in future sessions—creating real, actionable benefits for both our teams and the students we serve.

Capacity Building Workshops with Inflexion (1.0)

North and South Regions

The first Community Schools Capacity Building workshop, led in partnership with Inflexion, launched in the Central Coast region with great energy and participation. The northern session was hosted at the Monterey County Office of Education in Salinas, CA. bringing together CCSPP grantees from Monterey, Santa Cruz, and San Benito counties. The southern sessions, hosted at the Ventura County Office of Education in Camarillo, CA. welcomed grantees from San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura counties.

A community school is rooted in the Whole Child Approach—it is not separate from the work schools already do to support students. The Whole Child Approach ensures that every student is healthy, safe, engaged, supported, and challenged—not just academically prepared. Community schools bring this vision to life by integrating academics, health, and strong community partnerships.

Teams will build on existing strengths, with families, educators, and students working together to understand the unique needs, assets, and aspirations of their school community. A key takeaway was the importance of school Principals attending these workshops to gain essential knowledge, alongside Community School Coordinators, who play a vital role in establishing and sustaining strong Community Schools.

Implementation is not about checking boxes—it’s about embracing a mindset shift in how we approach schooling. What supports these efforts is:

Identify the work already being done - that is the foundation of community schools!
Aligning Site Implementation plans with the LCAP and SPSA
Aligning Site Implementation plans with District Goals and Initiatives
Invite the school and the larger community to see the work as an opportunity for authentic connection
See the strategy as an opportunity for innovation
Go slow to go fast, with intentionality
Celebrate the small wins to build excitement around the strategy

Caption: The Inflexion 1.0 workshop resources can be accessed via the QR code.

Caption: Attendees discuss their WHY?

Looking ahead, the RTAC is eagerly preparing for the second Inflexion session, Foundations of Success: Crafting Infrastructure for Effective Community Schools Implementation. This workshop will guide educators and leaders through the foundational steps for successful community school implementation. It will offer participants a protocol for developing a shared vision, defining communication structures, and exploring best practices for engaging families and communities intentionally.

Resources of the Month:

Needs and Assets Assessment (NAA)

Basic Overview of Needs and Assets Assessment Process in Education (2 pgs). The Needs and Assets Assessment (NAA) is an important tool in educational settings for identifying strengths, challenges, and opportunities for growth. While there is no one-size-fits-all approach, this guide highlights some of the key foundational elements of the NAA process. Keep in mind that the NAA is not a single event—it unfolds over time and continues throughout the school year. As you collaborate with your Advisory Council or Site Leadership teams, discussions about challenges, successes, and areas for improvement will help shape and refine your process. The data you collect along the way becomes part of the NAA itself, guiding adjustments to your methods and strategies.

Combat survey fatigue: Creative ways to solicit stakeholder feedback (guide, 47 pgs). Enjoy this helpful guide on how to include data collection methods that are more engaging and interactive. Collecting data doesn’t have to feel dry or transactional. When done creatively, it can build stronger connections with participants, spark meaningful conversations, and generate richer insights. This guide highlights ways to make the data collection process more engaging and interactive, ensuring that students, families, staff, and community partners feel heard and valued.

NAA support - Community Walk in Action (video 3 min) A community walk (sometimes called a neighborhood walk or community tour) is when educators, school leaders, and sometimes students or families walk through the neighborhoods where students live. The goal is to experience the community firsthand, see the resources and challenges students encounter, and strengthen school–community connections.

NAA support - What is street data? (web article)

NAA support - 10 tips to collect street data to support your NAA (4pgs)

STAC Digital Commons: Stories of transformation (website) Community Schools are more than a model—they’re a movement shaped by the voices of students, educators, families, and partners. These stories highlight how schools become hubs of equity, collaboration, and shared vision. As you read, we hope you find inspiration and practical ideas to bring to your own school community.

Lompoc Unified School District

Maple High School — a place where every student is known, supported, and empowered.

Maple High School in Lompoc, California, stands out for its commitment to personalized learning, real-world experiences, and a supportive school culture. The mission of the school community is to cultivate confident, capable learners who are prepared to navigate the diverse pathways to college, careers, and life beyond.

Maple High School had this to say about Community Schools Implementation:

Maple High School is so excited to share what we have been doing to connect our school with our families and the greater Lompoc community. Our students are all 16 years of age and older and they are with us for between one and 2 school years before they graduate. A big focus once they are here is meeting their academic needs so they can progress toward their high school diploma and then have a plan in place for next steps once they leave us.

This year we have had a focus of bringing the community in to share about opportunities available to our students. We have a representative from Allan Hancock College on campus weekly to help students with the application and financial aid process to enroll in the college. We have had all branches of the military on campus to share the opportunities they have available. We have also had Bank of America in to present on financial literacy, and CA Conservation Corps and Zoo to You here to discuss career options for students working in the conservation fields. We have had Barber/Cosmetology school, Medical Assisting, Green Construction Jobs, and Business Administration training programs on campus to share with students about options after graduation.

There’s more to come as we expand our connections with the Lompoc Community in support of our students. For more information on LUSD please visit: https://www.lusd.org/

Community Schools Implementation Network:

Santa Barbara County grantees

The Santa Barbara County Education Office (SBCEO) CCSPP coordination grant team recently convened the first session in a four-part series designed to support CCSPP grantees across Santa Barbara County.

The session began by engaging participants in several key topics designed to strengthen their approach to implementing community schools. Central to this discussion was a reflection on their shared vision and how it informs and unifies their collective work to support student success in alignment with the California Community Schools framework. Participants examined how their vision and priorities connect to the STAC capacity-building strategies, considering how to translate broad goals into concrete actions across areas such as collaborative leadership, data-informed decision-making, family and community engagement, and continuous improvement. By grounding their planning in both the framework and the capacity-building strategies, teams were able to identify opportunities to deepen impact, strengthen alignment, and foster sustainable systems of support that advance equitable outcomes for students and communities.

The SBCEO team also focused on framing the Annual Progress Report (APR) and Annual Expenditure Report (AER) as essential tools for supporting continuous improvement. Within the context of the California Community Schools framework, these reports help guide strategic planning, monitor progress toward goals, and highlight areas for growth. Participants developed a deeper understanding of how to leverage the APR and AER to make data-informed decisions, align initiatives across their schools, and enhance the overall effectiveness and impact of their community schools' efforts. California Dashboard data was also included in these conversations as an integral part of the continuous improvement process. Participants analyzed the data from a new perspective, identifying patterns and opportunities to enhance student outcomes and implement meaningful improvements across their schools and communities.

Caption: The Santa Barbara County Education Office CCSPP team memebers.

The session progressed into a period of team reflection and collaborative work, inviting participants to revisit their CCSPP site implementation plan. As teams examined their plans, participants considered how the priorities they identified aligned with broader goals and translated into actionable steps across the five CCSPP capacity-building strategies. This reflective process fostered rich discussions, helping teams sharpen their focus, strengthen alignment, and reaffirm their shared commitment to advancing progress in their schools and communities.

A highlight of the session was the “Stories from the Field” panel and Q&A. Panelists spoke candidly about their experiences as leads in CCSPP implementation, sharing both the opportunities and challenges they encountered while bringing the community schools strategy to life. Through their stories, they illustrated effective ways to align resources with student and family needs and underscored the importance of collaboration in building sustainable systems of support.

The session rounded off with a conversation about CCSPP funding, with a particular focus on sustainability. Participants explored allowable and non-allowable expenditures, discussed strategies for leveraging multiple funding streams, and considered how to align resources effectively to support program goals.

Caption: Panelists share their experiences as the lead for CCSPP implementation

Throughout the day, a central theme of collaboration resonated in every discussion. Participants were reminded that it’s always okay to ask for help and lean on their colleagues. By weaving together reflection, storytelling, and practical guidance, the session not only enhanced understanding of effective practices but also strengthened teamwork and advanced the implementation of the community schools strategy across districts.

Future session topics will include role navigation, facilitating shared decision-making, managing complex change, and sustainability. These sessions will be offered to Santa Barbara County CCSPP grantees at key points throughout the 2025–26 school year.

The SBCEO CCSPP Coordination Grant team continues to engage grantees at the local level through purposeful collaboration while setting the bar for excellence. Keep up the great work SBCEO!

More inspiring Community Schools work happening in the

Central Coast region!

Ventura County - Dr. Gina Ramirez, Santa Paula USD’s Assistant Superintendent of English Language Services and Community Engagement, and the district lead for Community Schools, recently shared highlights with the Santa Paula community about the district’s summer PASSA program (Pre-Admissions Student Success Academy).

The PASSA program is designed with a whole-child approach to support at-promise students as they prepare for the transition into high school. In addition to academic preparation, the program provides social-emotional learning, mentoring, and opportunities for leadership development.

Students participate in wellness activities that build confidence and coping skills, while also engaging in enrichment experiences such as college and career exploration, project-based learning, and culturally responsive curriculum.

By addressing the academic, emotional, and social needs of at-promise youth, the PASSA program helps students feel connected, capable, and ready to thrive in high school and beyond.

Check out the highlights of the PASSA

program in this short Instagram story (3 min.)

Great job, Santa Paula USD team!

Monterey County - Congratulations to our two Central Coast Deep Dive District participants!

Salinas Union High School District:

5 high schools
4 middle schools
3 alternative education schools
Combination of Cohort 3 and Cohort 4 grantees
District CCSPP Coordinator: Yvette Ramos, District Community School Manager
District Superintendent: Dr. Zandra Jo Galvan
County Superintendent: Dr. Deneen Guss

Soledad Union School District:

4 elementary Schools
1 middle school
1 high school
1 alternative education school
Combination of Cohorts 2, 3, and 4
LEA CCSPP Contact: Brad Smith, Director of Student and Family Services
District Superintendent: Mr. Randy Bangs
County Superintendent: Dr. Deneen Guss

These districts were invited into the Deep Dive learning partnership with the STAC team because they stand out as models of the following qualities:

Commitment to peer learning
Value of thought partnership
Demonstration of distributed and executive-level leadership
Show a commitment to advancing a strong, sustainable infrastructure for community schools across California

Congratulations! The Central Coast region is setting the standard for excellence.

Caption: Attendees enjoying the Cesar Chavez Community room space, post ribbon cutting.

Caption: Alisal USD CS Coordinators Alicia Blanco (left, Fremont School) and Rosa Isaura Arreguin (right, Cesar Chavez School) proudly display participation passports issued to parents. Parents can earn participation stamps when they attend community room-hosted events. Parents were very excited about this creative and engaging approach!

Monterey County - Alisal Union School District. Cesar Chavez Elementary celebrated the opening of its Community Room with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The ceremony was attended by parents, students, teachers, community partners, and staff. The Community room is a space for parents and community members to gather, connect, share their voices, and access critical classes and resources.

The Public Information Officer for AUSD had this to share about this momentous occasion: César E. Chávez Elementary hosted a beautiful ceremony to formally open its community room. It's located on the southernmost end of the school, next to the new kinder wing, and it's beautiful! Lots of mothers attended the event and were able to get a taste of what this room will be offering. Good company, good information and the encouragement we sometimes need to continue guiding our students. Congratulations Ms. Medina, Ms. Arreguín, Ms. Arrizón, and the entire Chávez team for this accomplishment.

Awesome job, AUSD and Cesar Chavez Elementary School teams!

Monterey County - The R-TAC team recently hosted an in-person Community Schools Network meeting, bringing together educators and community partners from across the county. The session opened with introductions and a warm welcome to new members, highlighting the collaborative spirit of the network.

Participants explored local data through the California School Dashboard and engaged in a deep dive into the Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP) for each of their districts, with a special spotlight on Salinas Union High School District, which has added a new Community Schools goal to their LCAP.

In addition, attendees discussed the School Plan for Student Achievement (SPSA) and received invitations to upcoming professional learning opportunities.

This network meeting emphasized the power of collaboration, data-driven planning, and community partnerships in building strong, student-centered schools.

Region-wide - Last month, Dr. Victor Rios, MacArthur Foundation Chair and professor at UC Santa Barbara, kicked off the Scholar System virtual session series, which focuses on growth mindset, emotional intelligence, and leadership.

The first session brought together 50 participants from across the Central Coast region, including community school coordinators, restorative justice facilitators, principals, and parent engagement specialists, to explore the topic Growth Mindset Foundations.

Dr. Victor Rios shared his personal journey from a fixed mindset as a high school dropout to becoming a tenured professor, highlighting the transformative power of mentors, educators, and school staff who believed in him. He emphasized the importance of a growth mindset in leadership, referenced research that indicated the impact of classified staff on student projection, and introduced the concept of "Masbloom," which combines high rigor and high expectations with emotional support.

Dr. Rios also discussed the praise and projection technique, a three-step process for effective praise that includes identifying and marking positive behaviors while projecting future possibilities for students.

The session concluded with an activity that introduced how different leadership styles are visually represented, using animal imagery to symbolize various traits. The conversation ended with a promise to continue the activity in the next session, where all the elements would be discussed and connected to the visual representations.

The next session is scheduled to take place on October 28th. The topic for that session will be Mindset in Practice.

Caption: Superintendent Dr. Matt Turkie extends a warm welcome to attendees, setting the tone for a collaborative and engaging space.

Monterey County - The North Monterey County Unified School District (NMCUSD) launched a new opportunity to further strengthen connections with families and community members. The Dinner with the Superintendent, or Cena con el superintendent, is an opportunity for parents/guardians, students, and community members to share a meal with the Superintendent and engage in meaningful conversations about their district. Each session focuses on a topic the community wants to explore and concludes with time for open discussion. Topics to date have included parent volunteering in schools and school safety. Along with dinner, the district also provides childcare and simultaneous translation in English, Spanish, and Mixteco to ensure broad participation.

Dr. Matt Turkie, Superintendent at NMCUSD, reflected on how this opportunity took shape:

This type of engagement with families started last year, when a group of parents wanted to meet with me to discuss their concerns with systemic inequities and issues which have plagued our schools for years. We held a series of meetings, which started with listening deeply to the concerns. Some of the problems brought up were easy to respond to, but many others were more systemic, and were going to take us time to improve. It gave me an opportunity to share our mission/vision, that "all students graduate college, career, and life ready", and to acknowledge the gap between our current reality and our mission/vision. Our school systems were never designed to serve all students equitably, and currently only some of our students find success, not all, and the opportunity gaps that exist follow predictable patterns based on race/ethnicity, socio-economic status, EL status and special education status. Our community rightly demands that we raise the bar and close the gap for all students, and to do this, we need to work together as one team - parents, students, administration, certificated and classified staff. As Superintendent, I need our parents to be empowered and to advocate for the changes we need to make. This is how the "Dinner with the Superintendent" series was born, as one avenue for parent/community empowerment and one manner in which we engage our community to ensure that "all students graduate college, career, and life ready."

By hosting these conversations, the district leadership team has created a warm, open environment where families and community members can share insights, ask questions, and engage in meaningful dialogue about the district’s future. This series not only strengthens bonds across the community but also highlights NMCUSD’s deep commitment to transparency, inclusivity, and collective growth—paving the way for a brighter educational experience for all.

CCSPP Superintendents are eager to learn from and be inspired by one another, and this series stands as a powerful example of commitment in action. We are truly grateful for the dedication and hard work of the NMCUSD team!

Above: Attendees sharing ideas on how to improve upon existing school systems.

Below: Topic of the first dinner, Volunteer Systems.

Caption: Based on participant feedback, the topic for the second dinner was School Safety.

Central Coast RTAC Partners

Inflexion is committed to ensuring EVERY

student receives what they need to succeed, recognizing that the playing field remains inherently unequal. An equitable education system respects students as individuals, plays to students’ strengths, values students’ unique cultures and perspectives, and allows for the individual ownership of learning along a path driven by students’ interests and aspirations.

Inflexion Materials/Workshop resource room (1.0 sessions)
Inflexion Materials/Workshop resource room (2.0 sessions) (forthcoming)

Lead Facilitator: Manuel Colón

Manuel Colon: teacher, mentor, coach, administrator. AUHSD - future talks featuring Manuel Colón (27 min.)

At the foundation of the Scholar System program is an educational approach focused on fostering deep learning, critical thinking, and a love for knowledge.

Programs aim to cultivate scholars who are not just knowledgeable but also possess the skills and mindset to become lifelong learners, engaged citizens, and future leaders.

Scholar System landing page for the Central Coast region

Lead Facilitator: Dr. Victor Rios

Dr. Victor Rios: professor, author, speaker, mentor, and founder of the Scholar System. A teacher that tapped into his soul (video, 2 min)

RTAC Calendar of Events

A most up -to-date copy of the RTAC events calendar

can be found here (Sheet)

RTAC Event Flyers

Inflexion 1.0 NORTH 25-26

(In-person) Attending EITHER the 1.0 OR 2.0 series of workshops fulfills CCSPP assurances for Technical Assistance participation as agreed upon with CDE.

Inflexion 1.0 SOUTH 25-26

(In-person) Attending EITHER the 1.0 OR 2.0 series of workshops fulfills CCSPP assurances for Technical Assistance participation as agreed upon with CDE.

Scholar System 25-26

((Virtual/Optional-Highly recommended)

Inflexion 2.0 NORTH 25-26

(In-person) Attending EITHER the 1.0 OR 2.0 series of workshops fulfills CCSPP assurances for Technical Assistance participation as agreed upon with CDE.

Inflexion 2.0 SOUTH 25-26

(In-person) Attending EITHER the 1.0 OR 2.0 series of workshops fulfills CCSPP assurances for Technical Assistance participation as agreed upon with CDE.

Senior Leadership Team Sessions - Dates TBD.

Flyer forthcoming

(Virtual/Optional)

State Technical Assistance Center team (STAC)

Updates

News

CDE - California Department of Education (CDE) State Superintendent Tony Thurmond celebrated the release of a new study highlighting the positive impact of California’s Community School Initiative. The study demonstrates that schools implementing the initiative are seeing measurable improvements in student attendance, stronger school culture, and enhanced engagement among students, families, and staff. Superintendent Thurmond emphasized that these results reflect the power of community schools to provide holistic support, foster equity, and create safe, inclusive learning environments where every student can thrive. The findings underscore the importance of continued investment in and expansion of the Community School Initiative across the state. The brief released by the Learning Policy Institute (LPI) can be found here: “Community Schools Impact on Student Outcomes: Evidence From California.”

STAC - Save the Date (applies to the 26/27 School year) - September 10-11, 2026. The Community Schools Summit, hosted by the STAC team, will take place over two days in September. This statewide gathering brings together a diverse ecosystem of stakeholders—CCSPP grantees, RTACs, educators, students, families, and community partners—united by a shared commitment to advancing the community schools movement. The Summit is designed to reimagine and strengthen community schools by showcasing how collective efforts can support the whole child through collaboration, aligned resources, shared leadership, and innovation. More than a showcase, the Summit serves as a space for sharing lessons learned, engaging in collaborative learning, and identifying strategies to scale and sustain effective practices across California. Additional details and registration information will be shared in early 2026.

Learning Opportunities

Sacramento COE and CDE - The California Community Schools Partnership Program (CCSPP) California Department of Education (CDE) team and the State Transformational Assistance Center (S-TAC) will host a series of six virtual webinars during the 2025-26 academic year focused on coherence to support the long-term sustainability of the CCSPP. These webinars will be open to all, and the registration information is included in the flyer. We hope you can join us!

National Education Association (NEA) - The NEA organization is offering CCSPP grantee teams the opportunity to participate in their benchmark academy series. The goal of the academies is to build the capacity of LEA and School site teams new to implementation. Participation in these academies is entirely optional and may be particularly beneficial if you’ve identified gaps in implementation support that they could help address. There are three benchmark academies that focus on A.) Evidence-Based Practices, Mapping and Deep Engagement B.) Determining Priorities and Developing Transformational Systems C.) Problem-Solving Cycles for Transformation. NEA academies bring site-level CCSPP teams together that include educators (including classified staff), community school coordinators, administrators, family and community members, and others. Academy participation requires a school Principal's commitment. If a CCSPP school is interested in more information about the academy series, please have a district representative contact centralcoastrtac@montereycoe.org

State Technical Assistance Center team (STAC)

Members

CDE - The California Community Schools Partnership Program (CCSPP) California Department of Education (CDE) team supports the community school, “whole-child” school improvement strategy, where the district and school work closely with teachers, students, families, and partners.

To subscribe to the CCSPP-Info listserv, send a "blank" message to: join-CCSPP-Info@mlist.cde.ca.gov

The Sacramento County Office of Education (SCOE) is the County representative on the State Transformational Assistance Center (STAC) team for the California Community Schools Partnership Program (CCSPP). This means SCOE, in partnership with Californians for Justice, the National Education Association, and the UCLA Center for Community Schooling, works closely with the California Department of Education to build content and an overarching methodology for CCSPP technical assistance.

Focus: