California Changing Education Through Community Schools

  • California is investing $4.1 billion to make one out of every three schools a community school

  • Community schools provide families with the resources and support they need to thrive, such as health and mental health care and social services – from counseling to nutrition programs to tutoring

  • Supporting students outside of the classroom helps them succeed in the classroom

SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom, First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom, and Assembly Members Kevin McCarty (D-Sacramento) and Al Muratsuchi (D-Torrance) today visited Encina High School and Greer Elementary School in Sacramento – two community schools located in the same place campus to provide services for the whole family in all age ranges.

First Governor and Partners met with students participating in various school community school programs available after securing $1 million in 2021 to support pre- and after-school tutoring, peer mentoring programs, trauma-informed mental health support, mobile health care for families, and English classes for adults in the local community.



Governor Newsom and First Partner Siebel Newsom at Greer Elementary School in Sacramento

What Governor Newsom said: “California creates a school where every student and their family can thrive. If a child goes to school hungry, it makes it difficult for him to study. That’s why we’re implementing free school meals for all California kids, including the kids here at Greer Elementary School and Encina Middle School. As education continues to come under attack in states across the US – from book bans and speech restrictions, to our other students, parents, and teachers – we improve student learning, health, and well-being by providing full-service schools for students and families they.”

What does this mean: Through a $4.1 billion California community school investment, parents and students throughout California will have more access to schools that provide culturally competent, high-quality teaching and all-inclusive services, including mental health support, tutoring, nutrition programs, free school meals, health care, counseling and other social assistance.

First Partner Siebel Newsom added: “Community schools are a haven for learning and a community hub with the resources and support that allow us to nurture children in mind, body, and spirit. These schools take a holistic approach to education by offering students and families a variety of services that meet community needs, such as free meals twice a day, physical health checks and mental health counseling, free before, after, and summer school programs. , transitional kindergartens, and more. The community school is built on California’s commitment to giving ALL children the best start in life and providing families with the resources they need to thrive.”


Siebel Newsom’s First Partner at Encina High School in Sacramento

How California Changed Education:

  • Universal Pre-Kindergarten: Californian children will have access to essential high-quality instruction at age 4 – effectively adding new value to the traditional K-12 system – regardless of family income, with full-scale implementation anticipated in 2025.

  • Universal Extended Day Learning: All primary students will have access to pre- and after-school programs, as well as summer learning opportunities, by 2025.

  • Universal Free Food: No student should study on an empty stomach, with all students having the choice of two free, nutritious meals per day – regardless of income or family status.

  • Adolescent Behavioral Health: Adolescents ages 0-25 will have access to a revamped youth behavioral health system, including a one-stop online hub and a multi-billion investment to integrate mental health services with schools.

  • College Savings Account: Every low-income public school student will have an account opened in their name with an initial deposit of $500 to $1,500 – cultivating a college mindset, building generational wealth, promoting college affordability, and developing financial literacy.

  • Tutoring + Literacy + Mathematics: Schools will help students accelerate academic progress and reduce learning losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic with more than $8 billion invested in tutoring, increased teaching time, and other student support.

  • More Teachers, More Counselors, and More Educators: A lower staff-to-student ratio is more supportive of students. Ratios will be lowered across series and $1.1 billion in annual funding for schools with high poverty rates to employ up to 5 more staff each.

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