State Board of Education approves $635 million in community school grants

The State Board of Education on Wednesday unanimously approved $635 million in planning and implementation grants for 265 school districts, county offices of education and charter schools in low-income areas to transition to full-service community schools.

Community schools act as community hubs that offer “wraparound services” such as health care, family support, counseling and housing assistance to students and families.

Of the 265 recipients, 192 are receiving $200,000 two-year planning grants to begin the process of becoming community schools. The other 73 are receiving five-year implementation grants covering 444 schools, with amounts ranging between $712,500 and $2.375 million.

The board appointed the Alameda County Office of Education to facilitate the grants, in collaboration with the UCLA Center for Community Schools, Californians for Justice and the National Education Association.