Community Schools

SCOE's Community Schools Consortium

This is a 5-year grant through the California Department of Education (CDE). California schools can choose to apply as individually funded sites or through a consortium. Once funded, school sites determine their focus areas within the California Community Schools Framework. These focus areas support identified unmet needs of students, families, staff and/or deepen impactful work that already exists within that schools district or schools system. 

Areas of focus could include, but are not limited to, academic and social supports, staff development, improved engagement strategies for both students and families, and increased community resources.

Each of SCOE's funded community schools within this grant has a Community Connect Coordinator. This staff member is housed on the school sites to be available when families have a need that fall outside the school. They connect families to resources using the Community Connect program model.

FAQs

Q: What is the difference between Community Connect and Community Schools?

A: This graphic gives a broad overview of the differences:

What are Community Schools?

From the Community Schools Playbook:

"Community schools are public schools that partner with families and community organizations to provide well-rounded educational opportunities and supports for students’ school success. Like every good school, community schools must be built on a foundation of powerful teaching that includes challenging academic content and supports students’ mastery of skills and competencies. 

What makes community schools unique is the combination of four key pillars (or features) that together create the conditions necessary for students to thrive. The pillars are: 1) integrated student supports; 2) expanded and enriched learning time and opportunities; 3) active family and community engagement; and 4) collaborative leadership and practices. 

The most comprehensive community schools are academic and social centers, where educators, families, and neighbors come together to support innovative learning

Because each community school is a reflection of local needs, assets, and priorities, no two look exactly alike. What they do share, however, is a commitment to partnership and to rethinking—and at times rebuilding—relationships based on a strong foundation of trust and respect."

SCOE Community Schools Consortium - Participating Schools

School districts were selected by the California Department of Education based on data collected from the Measure of America’s Portrait of Shasta County and other data collected by the state. The following data were analyzed to determine participation:

• Education index
• Student suspension rates
• Underrepresented students
• Chronic absenteeism
• High school graduation rates
• Violent crimes
• Graduates with A-G requirements