How can we align schools with community resources to improve student outcomes?

UCLA CTS is partnering with the Los Angeles County Office of Education and The LA Trust for Children’s Health to form a Regional Technical Assistance Center (R-TAC) to support Los Angeles County schools as they seek to establish or sustain a community schools model. This regional initiative is part of the statewide California Community Schools Partnership Program, a state initiative to help schools leverage local government and community partners’ support to align community resources to improve student outcomes.

A California community school serves students using a “whole-child” approach with an integrated focus on academics, health, social services, youth and community development, and community engagement. By integrating community resources and family involvement, community schools serve as a holistic improvement strategy to support local education agencies, and schools address their community’s unique needs and aspirations..

As the research partner for the R-TAC, UCLA CTS is investigating implementation strategies and providing technical assistance to grantees as they develop processes for progress monitoring.  CTS draws upon its experience and expertise as a research partner for large statewide initiatives to help the R-TAC and grantee schools interpret and assess their data as they implement the California Community Schools framework.