Timeline
2020
The Covid-19 pandemic exacerbated long-standing racialized inequities in the California education system.
The California Partnership for the Future of Learning collaborated with over 20 grassroots and racial-justice organizations to conduct a listening campaign that engaged over 600 students and families from low-income communities of Color across 20 school districts.
This campaign led to increased efforts to ensure that all California schools are racially just, relationship-centered spaces that involve students, families, educators, and the community in decision-making.
The Governor and legislature respond to advocacy efforts by investing $45 million in grants for sustaining or expanding community schools.
2021
In July 2021, responding to advocacy and organizing efforts, the California Legislature passed the historic California Community Schools Partnership Program (CCSPP), allocating $3 billion to establish new and expand community schools through June 2028.
The California Department of Education begins the work of implementing the CCSPP, and students, families, and communities organize to ensure that implementation is equitable and aligned with the needs and assets of those most marginalized by the current education system.
2022
In 2022, the California Legislature adds an additional $1.1 billion for a total of $4.1 billion for the CCSPP and extending funding through June 2031. In January 2022, the California State Board of Education (SBE) adopted the California Community Schools Framework. The Framework incorporates many of the key priorities identified by the community as essential to creating racially-just community schools.
In May 2022, the SBE unanimously approves the first round of planning and implementation grants to 265 school districts, county offices of education and charters, totaling $635 million. The SBE also names the Alameda County Office of Education, in partnership with UCLA Center for Community Schooling, National Education Association and Californians for Justice as the State Technical Assistance Center (STAC).
The STAC changes its name to the State Transformational Assistance Center to signal that the community schools strategy is a collaborative and innovative approach to public schooling that reimagines schools as communities capable of disrupting social inequality.
In November 2022, the SBE establishes a network of community schools by naming and approving eight county offices of education that will serve as Regional Technical Assistance Centers (RTACs).
2023
In March 2023, the SBE approved a second round of planning grants to 226 school districts, county offices of education and charters, totaling $45 million.
In May 2023, the SBE approved a second round of implementation grants to 128 school districts, county offices of education and charters, totaling $751 million.
The S-TAC expands its support of CCSPP grantees by collaborating with newly established R-TACs, hosting an Empower Summit, engaging students, parents, and community members in decision-making spaces, and producing resources aligned with the CCS Overarching Values.
2024
A third round of implementation grants will be awarded in Spring 2024.
A statewide evaluator will be named to assess the growth and progress of the CCSPP.
2025
CCSPP Extension Grants, for CCSPP Implementation grantees, to extend funding for an additional two years will be awarded beginning in 2025. The grant awards are up to $100,000 annually.