GGUSD to Receive Nearly $12 Million Grant for Community Schools

Wednesday, May 8, 2024

Garden Grove Unified School District was awarded a nearly $12 million state grant through the California Community Schools Partnership Program (CCSPP) to fund eight Community Schools over the next five years. The CCSPP supports schools’ efforts to partner with community agencies and local government to align community resources to improve student outcomes.

GGUSD’s eight Community Schools include Eisenhower Elementary School, Heritage Computer Science Academy, Newhope Elementary School, Russell Elementary Language Academy, Doig Intermediate School, Fitz Intermediate Language Academy, and Los Amigos and Santiago high schools.

These eight schools have already begun the work thanks to a two-year CCSPP planning grant that allowed GGUSD the opportunity to expand its planning process through a partnership with the Community Schools Learning Exchange (CSLX) and the operational support of GGUSD’s Community Schools Teacher on Special Assignment.

The nearly $12 million grant will fund a Community Schools Teacher Coach who will assist with the development, coordination and implementation of the community school strategy at the site level with the continued support of CSLX.

“GGUSD has always placed a high priority on maximizing the wealth of resources in our community and connecting families to those resources,” said Board of Education President Teri Rocco. “We are thrilled to put these grant dollars to use to continue the transformative work of further developing Community Schools that serve as a hub of support for our families.”

From 2022-2024, families, staff, students and community partners within GGUSD’s eight Community Schools collaborated on developing the Community Schools’ vision and goals through multiple focus groups, surveys and meetings. The plans were aligned to the needs of the schools and three priority areas including student supports for learning and socio-emotional well-being, school-based health and wellness and family support and community resource navigation.

GGUSD’s Community School plans align to the district’s three goals of equipping all students with the academic skills and personal skills for lifelong success. The plans are reflective of GGUSD’s longstanding commitment to supporting families through the district’s robust Parent and Community Outreach programs and five Family Resource Centers.