Community Schools Initiative

Schools created for the community, by the community.

Launched in 2019, the LACOE Community Schools Initiative works to address educational inequities across Los Angeles County.

Today, the initiative is supported by two key units: the School-Based Implementation unit, which directly supports 23 community schools with LACOE staff as practitioners of the community schools model, and the Greater Los Angeles Regional Transformational Assistance Center (R-TAC), which provides tailored coaching and support to grantees of the California Community Schools Partnership Program.

Our dual structure allows us to continue learning as practitioners and strengthen the technical assistance support we provide for schools across the county.

LACOE COMMUNITY
SCHOOL SITES

GREATER LOS ANGELES
R-TAC

CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY
SCHOOLS FRAMEWORK

NEWS &
HIGHLIGHTS

LACOE's Community Schools Initiative (CSI) is committed to transforming educational practices and reducing disparities by leveraging assets to transform schools into "hubs" of the community. With authentic collaborative leadership at the center, we believe that students, staff, families and communities are essential partners, ensuring all are seen, valued and supported.

Since the start of the unprecedented partnership among LACOE, county agencies, school districts and community-based organizations in 2019, LACOE CSI has enriched the lives of over 250,000 students and their families.

In addition to implementing the community schools model, LACOE CSI leads one of eight Regional Transformational Assistance Centers (R-TACs) designated by the California Department of Education. As the Greater Los Angeles R-TAC, LACOE CSI works in partnership with The Los Angeles Trust for Children’s Health and the UCLA Center for the Transformation of Schools to support all community schools in implementing the California Community Schools Partnership Program.

Many students face challenging life experiences that can impact their ability to learn. But what if there was a way to customize the learning and student supports at a school to truly create the conditions they need to learn, grow and succeed?

Schools that implement a Community Schools learning model work to identify what barriers students are facing, collaborate with community partners to leverage resources and ultimately improve the academic, emotional and physical wellbeing of students within their communities.

Each school is unique to the community it serves. By incorporating specific strategies, schools are transformed into community hubs that provide services and resources to meet the needs of students, families, and the community.

In partnership with the L.A. County Department of Mental Health and participating districts, LACOE is providing school social work services to qualifying LACOE Community Schools through a grant funded through California's Mental Health Student Services Act (MHSSA). These services further enhance LACOE's vision of creating school communities which empower all students, families, and staff to thrive by promoting mental health and wellbeing through a multi-tiered approach.