For a second year in a row, L.A. Unified was awarded a $44 million grant from the state’s Community Schools Partnership Program to sustain and expand the district’s Community Schools Initiative for another five years. Expanding the Community School model has been a key priority of the L.A. Compact since 2018. A program of the California Department of Education, the Community Schools Partnership has provided funding to more than 70 local education agencies across the state since 2021 to support schools’ efforts to partner with community agencies and local government to align community resources to improve student outcomes.

"The entire Los Angeles Unified family is grateful to be awarded with the California Community Schools Partnership Program Planning and Implementation Grant of over $44 million to be used to continue and deepen this important initiative. Community Schools are a proven and effective model that has been shown to contribute significantly to higher graduation rates and to help close the racial equity gap. With this significant state investment, we can further work to make a positive difference in the lives of our students and families." - Superintendent Alberto M. Carvalho & Board President Kelly Gonez

The implementation grant will increase opportunities and access at the 34 L.A. Unified Community Schools in several key areas over a five-year period:

1. Creating "Anchor Sites" for integrated support services for students and families in the community.
2. Providing parents, families, and community members with educational opportunities to promote equity and economic growth.
3. Giving school staff and administrators access to training to implement research-based teaching methods including: Linked Learning, Project Based Learning, Work-Based Learning, and Career-Technical Education Pathways.
4. Developing a fellowship for Community Schools Administrators to further their collaborative leadership skills at each Community School.

This historic investment builds on last year's $6 million Community Schools Partnership Program grant award. We anticipate seeing the CSI grow to well over 70 schools in the next few years as future funding opportunities from the Community Schools Partnership Program become available.

We are excited to collaborate alongside our partners in supporting this important equity initiative to transform the ways students learn and experience school in L.A. Unified and across the county. For more information on the Community Schools Initiative, please contact Ariana Oliva, L.A. Compact Senior Manager, at [email protected] and Raylene Paris, L.A. Compact Coordinator, at [email protected].