News

During the 2025-26 school year, the Southern Coast R-TAC hosted the Community Schools Level I Series. This five part series equip new community school leaders with an understanding of the community schools frameworks (CA and National frameworks), California Community Schools Partnership Program deliverables, and foundational strategies and practices vital for creating a thriving community school.  

During session 5, attendees had the opportunity to better understand the power of storytelling for implementing Community Schools; reflect and develop how they will communicate their Community Schools story; and identify how to use the annual progress report as a storytelling tool. 

In Webinar 4, of the SC R-TAC webinar series, participants explored how belonging, alignment, and coherence help move community schools from isolated efforts to a more connected and sustainable way of working. The session grounded this learning in the California Community Schools Framework, Community Schools Essentials, and a continuous improvement approach that connects planning, implementation, reflection, and improvement.

On February 10, 2026, the California Legislature convened a joint informational and oversight hearing focused on the implementation and future of community schools across the state.

There was local representation at the hearing by Principal Melissa Agudelo of Lincoln High School (San Diego Unified School District). Principal Agudelo shared her experience as a Community Schools principal and the key elements she believes are factors in who they are becoming at Lincoln. You can view her powerful testimony and read a transcript of her speech.

In late Winter, SDCOE hosted a virtual District Leader Huddle to bring together leaders throughout San Diego County to listen and learn from fellow grantees. During the virtual session, district leaders had the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of Local Education Agency (LEA) level support and best practices for California Community Schools Partnership Program (CCSPP) implementation; and learn from a colleague at Sweetwater Union High School District about the district’s efforts to build the capacity of their multiple school sites through a collaborative infrastructure. 

What does it really mean to know our school community? In this month’s Session 4 of the SC R-TAC Level I series, presenters Aronn Peterson (SDCOE), Dawn Costa (CSLX), Dr. Monica Loyce (SDCOE), and Stephanie Fernandez (OCDE) guided participants through Assets and Needs Assessment as more than a compliance task, framing it instead as a listening project rooted in relationships.  Throughout the session there was a strong emphasis on connecting stories, because data without context can miss the heart of who we serve. When approached with curiosity and care, data becomes a tool for trust-building, helping schools move beyond surface-level numbers to better understand the lived experiences, strengths, and aspirations of students and families. 

Our first Community Schools Showcase was hosted by Mountain View School on February 18, 2026. During the Showcase, attendees had the opportunity to engage and network with fellow CCSPP grantees; listen and learn from Mountain View’s community schools team; and participate and engage in peer learning sessions focused on transformative teaching and learning. The intentional focus on teaching and learning allowed grantees to understand that community schools goes beyond integrated student support.