Posted 29 June 2011
California Community Schools Advocacy Network (CCSAN) eNews
Update: AB 760 (Gordon) Community Schools Bill Held in Suspense in Assembly Appropriations Committee | Letters of Support Needed for SCR 18 (Liu) Public Schools: Pupil, Teacher and Parent Surveys | AJR 10 (Brownley) Needs Your Support
Posted 23 May 2011
California Community Schools Advocacy Network (CCSAN) eNews
Healthy Start Report Released at Senate Hearing on Community Schools
Posted 13 May 2011
Senator Hancock Convenes Community Schools Hearing
Chairwoman Loni Hancock and members of the Select Committee on Workforce Development, School Environment and Student Wellness hear about the community schools approach
On May 12, 2011 in Sacramento, Partnership for Children and Youth and Senator Loni Hancock, chairwoman of the Select Committee on Workforce Development, School Environment and Student Wellness, convened an informational hearing at the Capitol about the community schools approach as an important strategy for school improvement in California.
A panel of representatives from California schools and school districts presented background and viewpoints on why supporting children and families in a more comprehensive way is critical to school success and also makes good governance sense. Panel speakers included:
- Tony Smith, Superintendent, Oakland Unified School District
- James Hammond, Superintendent, Ontario-Montclair School District
- Jan Christensen, Superintendent, Redwood City School District
- Amaya Weiss, Healthy Start Coordinator, Freeport Elementary School, Sacramento City Unified School District
Deanna Niebuhr of Partnership for Children and Youth, and Joanne Bookmyer, PhD, of Center for Community School Partnerships, CRESS Center, UC Davis School of Education, began the day’s proceedings by introducing their new report, “California Healthy Start: Seed Funding to Build Partnerships for Student Success.”
The newly released Healthy Start report highlights the promise of utilizing schools as access points for a range of critical services for children and their families in California’s low-income communities. It showcases six (former) California Healthy Start grant recipients that have successfully built robust partnerships among the school district, local government and community-based agencies. The success stories suggest that providing seed funding for planning and coordination of learning-support services is a worthwhile investment in communities, one that contributes to sustained partnerships, programs and services, and ultimately better outcomes for children and families.
- Read the new Healthy Start report >>
- Learn about current community schools legislation >>
- View the May 12, 2011 hearing agenda >>
Posted 13 April 2011
AB 760 (Gordon) Healthy Start Community Schools Bill Passes the Assembly Education Committee
Today, Apr. 13, 2011, Assembly Bill 760 (Gordon) Healthy Start Community Schools Act passed through the Assembly Education Committee. AB 760 will be a vehicle for emphasizing to Legislators the importance of the community school approach—supporting schools and students through interagency partnerships. AB 760 is authored by Assembymember Richard S. Gordon. The bill is co-sponsored by Partnership for Children and Youth, and the California School Health Centers Association.
Healthy Start represents California’s early investment in the community schools approach. AB 760 would make several improvements to the Healthy Start program, including:
- Requiring greater integration with academic programs and systems;
- Emphasizing alignment with existing children’s initiatives;
- Emphasizing district and/or countywide systems change;
- Refining the outcomes and evaluations process; and
- More strictly limiting the use of grant funds to planning and coordination.
AB 760 will also rename the law as the Healthy Start Community Schools program. Please note that this bill does not add any new funding to the Healthy Start Program.
- Read an AB 760 fact sheet >>
- Get a copy of AB 760 as amended Apr. 4, 2011 >>
Again, thank you to everyone for your support on this bill.
Join CCSAN to Stay Involved and Engaged
Help us create a supportive policy environment for community schools in California. Join the California Community Schools Advocacy Network (CCSAN).
- Sign up for the CCSAN mailing list >>
updated 28 March 2011
Community School Bills for 2011
Partnership for Children and Youth is working alongside a number of advocacy organizations to develop state-level policy that will support local community school partnerships. To achieve this goal, we are collectively drafting, refining and supporting a package of bills in 2011 that will raise awareness about the community schools approach and give communities additional support in their efforts.
The following are some of the key California community school bills being introduced this year.
- Assembly Bill 760 (Gordon). Healthy Start revisited. Jointly sponsored by Partnership for Children and Youth and the California School Health Centers Association | AB 760 fact sheet >>
- Assembly Bill 823 (Dickinson). Children’s Cabinet. Children Now is the current sponsor | AB 823 fact sheet >>
- Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 18 (Liu). California School Climate, Health, and Learning Survey (CAL-SCHLS). Children Now is the current sponsor | SCR 18 digest >>
Learn more about the 2011 bill package | Read CCSAN eNews >>
Posted 03 February 2011
Policy Briefs Published from the Working Families Policy Summit 2011
California Center for Research on Women & Families | Connecting Health and Education
The realities of working and parenting have meant that many schools are stepping up to provide more basic health and nutrition-related services for families. Below are recommendations and background materials prepared by summit advocates working to ensure that students are healthy and ready to learn.
Over 500 California leaders attended the California Working Families Policy Summit, convened by the California Center for Research on Women & Families, held on Jan. 12, 2011.
Read summit policy briefs on full-Service community schools prepared by Jennifer Peck, Executive Director, Partnership for Children and Youth.
- Recommendations on Community Schools | Recommendations >>
- Fact Sheet: Community Schools | Facts >>
- Legislative History: Community Schools, Healthy Start and Summer Learning | History >>
Read more briefs from the Connecting Health and Education summit strand >>
Posted 13 January 2011
Jennifer Peck Appointed Director of Transition Team for State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Tom Torlakson’s Transition Advisory Team is a bipartisan group of educators, and labor, business and community leaders
Partnership for Children and Youth is excited to share the news that Executive Director Jennifer Peck begins the New Year as Director of the Transition Advisory Team for Tom Torlakson, newly-elected California State Superintendent of Public Instruction. Mr. Torlakson took office on Jan. 3, 2011. The Transition Team will provide strategic advice on key issues impacting California students, schools, school districts and the California Department of Education.
In addition to her ever-growing responsibilities at the Partnership, Jennifer will devote roughly one day a week to the Superintendent’s office for the next few months. As director of the transition effort, Jennifer is responsible for ensuring that the 50-member Transition Team carries out its work in a timely, efficient and effective manner. She is also uniquely positioned to provide specific recommendations on after school and summer programs, as well as on community schools.
The Transition Team is co-chaired by Professor Linda Darling-Hammond of Stanford and David Rattray of UNITE LA.
- Learn more about the Transition Team | CDE news release >>
Posted 10 January 2011
California Community Schools Advocacy Network (CCSAN) eNews
Upcoming Hearing at the State Capitol | Making Changes to Healthy Start | Realigning Funding Streams
posted 08 September 2010
California Community Schools Advocacy Network (CCSAN) eNewsletter
Support Senate Bill 1357 | Sign On to a Letter in Support of Strengthened 21st CCLC Funding
posted 07 July 2010
California Community Schools Advocacy Network (CCSAN) eNewsletter
Support Senate Bill 1357 | DIPLOMA Act (S.3595) Introduced by US Senators Brown and Sanders | Sign Onto a Nationwide ESEA Reauthorizaton Support Letter
Posted 04 June 2010
California Community Schools Advocacy Network (CCSAN) eNewsletter
Chronic Absence Update | Federal School-based Health Center (SBHC) Grant Program
