Community Schools

Schools are increasingly asked to respond not only to academic needs, but also to the social, emotional, and economic realities students and families face. In rural and geographically large counties like Siskiyou, limited access to services, staffing capacity, and community infrastructure can make it especially challenging for schools to meet these needs alone. The California Community Schools Framework offers a powerful approach, but successful implementation requires coordination, relationships, and sustained support.

County Community Schools Coordination exists to help schools and districts turn the framework into meaningful, workable practice. By supporting both funded and non-funded schools, we reduce inequities in access to resources and expertise, help districts meet grant requirements, and strengthen connections between schools and the communities they serve. This work matters because when schools are supported as hubs of care, collaboration, and opportunity, students are more engaged, families are more connected, and communities are stronger.

Who We Serve

• School districts
• School sites (funded and non-funded community schools)
• Community-based organizations and service providers
• Regional and county partners

What We Do

Community Schools Implementation Support

• Support schools in implementing the California Community Schools Framework
• Assist with planning, alignment, and continuous improvement
• Help funded schools understand and meet grant requirements
  
  Coordination and Partnership Building
• Connect schools with community-based partners and service providers
• Facilitate collaboration among education, early learning, workforce, and family-serving organizations
• Strengthen shared goals and collective problem-solving

Professional Learning and Technical Assistance

• Provide professional learning opportunities for district and school staff
• Offer coaching, tools, and guidance tailored to local needs
• Share promising practices and lessons learned across sites

Systems and Capacity Building

• Support districts in developing sustainable community schools structures
• Help align community schools work with existing initiatives and priorities
• Build readiness for future funding opportunities

We Commonly Help When…

• A district or school is new to the community schools approach
• A funded school needs support with planning, reporting, or implementation
• A non-funded school wants to begin community schools work
• A school is looking to strengthen family engagement or student supports
• A partner organization wants to collaborate more closely with schools
• A district wants to build shared understanding and capacity across sites

How Districts and Partners Engage With Us

Districts and schools engage with us through planning meetings, coaching, professional learning, and ongoing coordination. We work alongside school and district teams to identify needs, connect resources, and support implementation over time.

Community partners engage with us to explore collaboration opportunities, align services with school needs, and build sustainable partnerships that benefit students and families. We also convene partners and schools at a quarterly Connection Cafe, aimed at strengthening relationships, building partnerships, and sharing resources.

Below are opportunities to engage with our team:

• One-on-one coaching 
• Monthly regional community schools site visits
• Monthly Siskiyou Community School Community of Practice
• Quarterly Connection Cafe 

What Success Looks Like

• Improved student attendance and engagement : Schools implementing community schools strategies experience meaningful decreases in chronic absence compared with similar schools not using the approach, helping more students show up ready to learn each day.
• Safer and more supportive school environments : Suspension rates decline in schools with community schools implementation, contributing to more inclusive and positive climates for students.
• Stronger academic outcomes : Early results from California’s CCSPP implementation show gains in academic achievement equivalent to extra weeks of learning, particularly for students who have been historically underserved, such as Black students and English learners.
• Reduced educational inequities : The holistic community schools approach is linked with larger improvements for students facing barriers to learning, indicating progress toward more equitable outcomes across student groups.
• Expanded community partnerships and student supports: Districts and schools build stronger connections with family-serving, health, and community partners, resulting in aligned networks of support that address academic and non-academic needs.
• Sustained systems change: Schools and districts develop lasting practices that integrate whole-child supports, family engagement, and community collaboration into regular operations.

Our Impact in Action 

To date, Siskiyou County schools have received more than $16 million in California Community Schools Partnership Program funding, supporting wraparound services, expanded learning opportunities, career exploration, and family-centered supports. This investment is helping schools address student needs beyond the classroom and build environments where students can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.

Countywide coordination has strengthened the ability of community partners to meaningfully connect with schools and students. Through these partnerships, families are accessing increased parenting classes and engagement events through First 5 Siskiyou, literacy programs through the Siskiyou Family Resource Center Collaborative and Mt. Shasta Rotary, and expanded food access and nutrition supports through Great Northern Services and the California Department of Food and Agriculture. These collaborations allow services to reach students and families where they already are- at school.

Overall, County Community Schools Coordination has amplified the impact of community schools funding by helping schools implement the framework effectively, aligning partners around shared goals, and leveraging local resources. By connecting schools with trusted community organizations and supporting implementation across funded and non-funded sites, this work ensures that community schools investments translate into lasting benefits for students, families, and communities across Siskiyou County.

Implementation Plans:

Delphic Implementation Plan

Butte Valley High School Implementation Plan

Willow Creek Implementation Plan

Junction Elementary Implementation Plan

Butte Valley Elementary Implementation Plan

Dunsmuir High School Implementation Plan

Jackson Street School Implementation Plan

Evergreen Elementary Implementation Plan