Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/1419056
T H E S T A T E ' S $3 billion investment is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and CTA leaders are focused on ensuring the historic funding is used to create the community schools that students and families need across the state. In a letter to Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond and State Board of Education President Linda Darling-Hammond, the presidents of the 20 CTA local asso- ciations participating in NEA's Community Schools Strategic Campaign Institute requested the creation of a statewide Community Schools Steering Committee. This body would ensure democratic community stakeholder involvement, overall state-level ongoing guidance, community education and engagement, pathways to sustainable funding, and ongoing evaluation, assessment and support — essential to the success of community schools. The CTA locals and their community partners also pro- posed regulations for school districts that receive state community schools funds, requiring: • A rigorous and bottom-up application process to become a community school. • Full-time community school coordinators at each school. • Additional funding at each school annually to build the program. • Training and systematic coaching for coordinators and others to support the leading and implementation of assessment of needs and development of a strategic plan at each school. • Professional development, training and systematic coaching on culturally responsive curriculum, commu- nity organizing, and other key pieces of the community schools model. "We are here as a community, working together to serve the whole child and the whole community." —Olivia Udovic, Oakland Education Association Educators Request Parameters for Community School Funding S a n D i e g o E d u c a t i o n A ss o c i a t i o n (SDEA) leaders parlayed an NEA training on building a community schools coali- tion four years ago into convincing the San Diego Unified school board to adopt a supportive resolution last year and develop a plan to open five community schools for the 2022-23 school year. SDEA, which is also a CAPE grant awardee, is working with school sites to prepare for the state grant application process, devel- oping their community school pillars and strengthening partnerships, according to SDEA Vice President Kyle Weinberg. " The funds from the grant are going into developing the leadership and coach- ing skills of our members who are doing this work," he says. "NEA has done some groundbreaking work with community schools. It inspired us at SDEA to attempt to implement community schools with fidelity. We've taken a lot of the guidance from NEA and CTA to heart about what a community school can look like." Leslie Hu, community school coordi- nator at San Francisco Unified and UESF member, has been working with NEA and • Expanded decision-making purview for parents, youth, community and educators at each community school. • A Community Schools Steering Committee in each district that receives funding to guide the process with the above elements; help assess and evaluate the work; lead on broad community education about community schools; spearhead creating sustainable funding for community schools; and ensure broad and diverse com- munity involvement and stakeholder leadership. Children at book and backpack giveaway at 93rd Street Academy in LA. 26 cta.org Feature