This month we are excited to release the latest issue of our Community Schooling journal–highlighting rural community schools in Shasta County, California. We also share stories from the UCLA Community Schools and news of an upcoming convening of the University-Assisted Community Schools National Network.
Thanks for reading!
New Release: Issue 6 of Community Schooling
We are thrilled to announce the 6th issue of Community Schooling! This issue highlights the tremendous work of county leaders, educators, support specialists, students, and community members in the Shasta County Office of Education (SCOE). Our Center has had the honor of working closely with SCOE as a Deep Dive Transformation Partner for the California Community Schools Partnership Program (CCSPP) throughout the last year.
The issue’s School Case focuses on Igo-Ono Elementary School, located outside of Redding, Shasta’s largest city. The school case highlights the unique assets and needs of a small, rural school, and how the school staff coordinate with the county office of education to ensure that students are able to show up to school with all of their needs met–a key requirement for learning! Our Teacher Scholarship piece traces the story of Shaw, a former early childhood educator (ECE) and current mental health practitioner in SCOE. The piece illuminates how Shaw’s personal journey as father and professional experience as an ECE teacher enabled him to deftly support the mental health needs of SCOE students and their families. The Youth Research video shares the experiences of graduate students conducting their clinical work in SCOE schools. We learn how SCOE’s partnership with local graduate schools fosters learning at the graduate level, directly supports the well-being of Pre-K through 12th grade students and their families, and serves as a key sustainability strategy to ensure the success of all those involved. Finally, the Policy ABCs article shares the impactful collaboration between the local American Indian tribes and SCOE. The article outlines this policy work along with related curriculum work. This piece offers key takeaways for LEA staff, policy makers, and community members.
UCLA Law Students Support Immigrant Family Legal Clinic
This fall, the UCLA Community School welcomes an incredible group of UCLA law students at the UCLA Immigrant Family Legal Clinic. The student lawyers have a range of backgrounds from K-12 teaching experience to deep advocacy work. Law students are working on supporting the needs of the community from newcomer consultations, asylum advocacy, and workers rights. We are honored and privileged to have an incredible group of committed law students on site taking a weekly seminar course with Nina Rabin, the clinic director. The partnership allows law students to gain applicable skills, while addressing a key need in direct legal services to the local community.
UCLA Undergraduate Interns Launch Fall Quarter at Mann
UCLA undergraduate interns kicked off the Fall Quarter with a lunch meeting at Mann UCLA Community School on September 24th. Supporting the college-going culture at both community schools, eight UCLA students will be helping seniors with their college applications and career exploration in the fall. In the winter, the interns will co-teach a Transition to College course to ensure that all seniors feel prepared for their postsecondary journeys. For more information about the course, check out this research brief.
Upcoming University-Assisted Community Schools Convening in Philadelphia
The Netter Center and the Coalition for Community Schools are co-hosting a free, in-person UACS event at the University of Pennsylvania, November 11th and 12th. The convening will focus on developing sustainable K-20+ partnerships, the critical roles students (K-20+) play in community schools, and how to develop partnerships that simultaneously advance teaching, learning and student achievement while solving local problems such as those related to physical health, nutrition, behavioral health, the environment, employment, and more. Two additional offerings are also available over the two days. First, a deep dive on mobilizing the vast range of college and university resources that can support UACS work will occur on the morning of November 11th. Second, site visits to Netter Center-supported community schools will be offered on the afternoon of November 12th.
Measuring What Matters: A White Paper
California’s historic $4.1B investment in community schools presents an extraordinary opportunity to collect and use multiple measures of implementation quality and whole-child outcomes. This white paper charts a path for combining state and local measures to inform the development, monitoring, and improvement of community schooling across California.