ACROSS CALIFORNIA, educators, students and families are working together to transform public education with Community Schools.

To raise visibility and build local power and capacity for Community Schools, 47 CTA locals took part in the first statewide week of action, April 22–26.

“The Community Schools model builds power with community and brings broader issues of the common good to the table.” —CTA President David Goldberg

While each Community School is different, as they draw on the unique strengths of a neighborhood to address students’ unique needs, they are all based on shared decision-making. These schools involve genuine and authentic collaboration by all stakeholders to serve both students and communities in the best possible ways.

“The model of Community Schools is a bottom-up, anti-racist model, a democratic model,” said CTA President David Goldberg. “It’s a model that builds power with community, that brings broader issues of the common good to the table.”

Along with collaborative leadership, Community Schools strive for deep family engagement systems and innovative, culturally relevant teaching practices to build the foundations for true transformational change within schools and communities.

California has committed $4.1 billion dollars for Community Schools, meaning one in every four schools in the state will become a Community School in the next 10 years.

Actions during the week in April were varied since the Community Schools movement is at different stages in different areas. They included chapter outreach to parents and community members; chapters organizing and taking actions together with other chapters; local schools holding “open houses” for policymakers and community members; and much more. A roundup:

Region 1

A show of support by UESF educators.

UNITED EDUCATORS OF SAN FRANCISCO
—met with school board members and held Community Schools event; created videos with Community Schools leaders

FAIRFIELD-SUISUN UNIFIED TEACHERS ASSN.
—campaigned to bargain for Community Schools language in contract, including petition; created “FSUTA Takin’ It to the Streets”

OAK GROVE EDUCATORS ASSN.
—submitted petition to school board to bargain for Community Schools language in contract

ORCHARD TEACHERS ASSN.
—conducted a parent townhall on Community Schools

PITTSBURG EDUCATION ASSN.
—passed a Community Schools resolution and distributed fliers to parents

SAN JOSE TEACHERS ASSN.
—created and distributed computer stickers for awareness

SAN MATEO ELEMENTARY TEACHERS ASSN.
—coordinated district action with five Community Schools sites

Region 2

ANDERSON CASCADE TEACHERS ASSN.
—held a leader interest meeting

ANDERSON UNION HS TEACHERS ASSN.
—held a leader interest meeting

DELANO UNION ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHERS ASSN.
—held a Rep Council presentation

FARMERSVILLE TEACHERS ASSN.
—submitted demand to bargain Community Schools language in contract

STOCKTON TEACHERS ASSN.                                                                                  —passed resolution to bargain language for Community School and presented to school district

YUBA COUNTY CERTIFIED EMPLOYEES ASSN.                                                 —held a leadership strategy session and Rep Council presentation

Collective Strength

The following Fresno area locals held a regional strategy
session about their actions:

CARUTHERS UNIFIED TEACHERS ASSN.

CENTRAL UNIFIED TEACHERS ASSN.

COALINGA HURON TEACHERS ASSN.

FRESNO TEACHERS ASSN.

GOLDEN PLAINS TEACHERS ASSN.

KINGS CANYON TEACHERS ASSN.

MADERA UNIFIED TEACHERS ASSN.

MERCED COUNTY OFFICE TEACHERS ASSN.

Collective Strength

Presenters and speakers at the forum included leadership from Sacramento/Placer County locals and CTA President David Goldberg (in hat).

The following Sacramento/Placer county locals met in a regional forum to build power for Community Schools together:

FOLSOM CORDOVA EDUCATION ASSN.

NATOMAS TEACHERS ASSN.

ROCKLIN TEACHERS PROFESSIONAL ASSN.

SACRAMENTO CITY TEACHERS ASSN.

TWIN RIVERS UNITED EDUCATORS

LBTA in action.

LOS BANOS TEACHERS ASSN.

—passed a Rep Council resolution, held a presentation for members, parents, school board members; asked supporters to sign a petition calling on district to pass a resolution and reach agreement with bargaining units

EMETA’s Rep Council passes the resolution; EMETA President Gloria Delfin signs it.

EL MONTE ELEMENTARY TEACHERS ASSN.

—passed a Rep Council resolution and held a townhall with more than 40 parents in attendance

Lynwood parents learning about Community Schools, #unionstrong educators, the petition

LYNWOOD TEACHERS ASSN.

—conducted a parent event, created a change.org petition and submitted demand to bargain

Pasadena educators are all smiles.

UNITED TEACHERS OF PASADENA

—conducted site visits

Region 3

ALHAMBRA TEACHERS ASSN.                                                                                  —conducted site visits

ASSOCIATED POMONA TEACHERS                                                                        —brought parents to speak at school board meeting

COMPTON EDUCATION ASSN.                                                                                 —passed an e-board resolution

GARVEY EDUCATION ASSN.                                                                                     —passed a Rep Council resolution and conducted member education

GLENDALE TEACHERS ASSN.                                                                                  —made a Rep Council presentation and resolution

INGLEWOOD TEACHERS ASSN.                                                                              —created Community Schools Coordinator job descriptions

MOUNTAIN VIEW TEACHERS ASSN.                                                                     —Community School discussion with district administrators

SANTA BARBARA TEACHERS ASSN.                                                                       —passed an e-board and a Rep Council resolution, conducted member education

UNITED TEACHERS LOS ANGELES                                                                        —held open house for Community Schools

VICTOR VALLEY TEACHERS ASSN.                                                                        —steering committee presentation, communications plan and created Community Schools Coordinator job descriptions

WETA leadership holds a Community Schools meeting.

WHITTIER ELEMENTARY TEACHERS ASSN.
—met one-on-one with members; conducted site visits with school board members

Region 4

ALVORD TEACHERS ASSN.
—conducted campaign to pass school board resolution

CHULA VISTA EDUCATORS
—conducted member education

FONTANA TEACHERS ASSN.
—passed a member resolution in support of Community Schools

GARDEN GROVE EDUCATION ASSN.
—passed a Rep Council resolution and conducted member education

ORANGE UNIFIED EDUCATION ASSN.
—passed a Rep Council and a school board resolution

SDEA educators, legislators discuss Community Schools.

SAN DIEGO EDUCATION ASSN.
—held a Community Schools showcase with the district for California Assembly Members

To learn more about CTA’s work with Community Schools and to read previous coverage, visit cta.org/communityschools.