Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/1419056
receiving coaching for the past few years to expand the community school movement nationwide. She says community schools are effective vehicles to uplift the voices of young people and families. "It's all based on what they need, on what the communities hope for," says Hu. "We're really interested in centering our young people and families. How do we use the power and resources of the union, of CTA and of NEA, to push this work forward?" Mayra Alvarado teaches at Manzanita SEED Elementary School — one of more than 40 community schools in Oakland. She says educators and parents got a lot closer as they weathered the pandemic together, utilizing their "parent-teacher union" to organize and fight for the needs of their school. "It's about parents supporting teachers as workers, and teachers sup- porting parents in what they need for their children," says Alvarado, an Oakland Education Association member. "Our teachers are aware of where our families are coming from. I wish I went to a school like the one I'm teaching at!" For more information about CTA and NEA's work on community schools, go to cta.org/communityschools. Money for Community Schools T O N Y T H U R M O N D , state superintendent of public instruction, says the increase in funding could result in one-third of California's 10,600 public schools becoming community schools. • $3 billion from the state: One-time Proposition 98 funding through 2028 to expand community schools across the state through the California Community Schools Partnership Program (CCSPP). The goal is to transition every school where 80 percent or more of students live in poverty into a community school over the next five years. School districts with more than 50 percent of students qualifying for free or reduced-priced lunch will be eligible for grants, with priority given to districts with greater need, those disproportionately impacted by COVID, and districts with a plan to sustain community school funding after the grant expires. Thurmond will present the CCSPP plan to the State Board of Education for approval in November. • $443 million from the federal government: Funding in President Biden's budget for U.S. schools to become community schools, nearly 15 times the previous amount. • $3 million from NEA: Annual funding to help school districts make the transition to community schools, starting with the 100 largest school districts in the country. Twenty CTA locals are taking part in the NEA Strategic Campaign on Community Schools, with most receiving NEA Community Advocacy and Partnership Engagement (CAPE) grants to support their organizing efforts. Details about CAPE at nea.org/cape. CTA President E. Toby Boyd talks to a child at Prescott Elementary School in Oakland. "When we talk about reimagining public education, community schools are a big part of that vision. It's how we connect what's best for students and educators to parents and our communities." —CTA President E. Toby Boyd 27 O C T O B E R / N O V E M B E R 2 0 21