WHAT are the goals at this stage?
Chapter leaders understand the importance and potential benefits of community schools and embrace chapter involvement.

WHAT concrete objectives should you work toward?
Executive Board passes a resolution endorsing community schools, advocating for the district to engage interest-holders in an
open, inclusive, collaborative planning and implementation process.
Rep Council passes a resolution endorsing community schools, advocating for the district to engage interest-holders in an open,
inclusive, collaborative planning and implementation process.

WHY are these goals and objectives important?
A resolution by either the Executive Board or the Rep Council (depending on chapter practices/culture) will establish the official
position of the chapter as being in favor of community schools and sets the public expectation that planning and implementation
will be open, inclusive, and collaborative.

A resolution also makes sure everyone within chapter leadership is informed, knowledgeable and onboard, which will be
especially important if the district resists and the chapter is forced to organize a public pressure campaign.

HOW can you achieve these goals and objectives?
• One-on-one conversations with chapter leaders
• Invite CTA staff to present to Executive Board/Rep Council on community schools
• Attend a regional community schools information session as a leadership team to learn more about community schools
• Attend CTA conferences like the CTA Issues Conference and/or the CTA Summer Institute as a leadership team to learn
more about community schools
• Visit community schools in another district and meet with leaders of the local chapter to learn about their community
schools
• Identify who among chapter leaders (or possibly a new leader) will be the point-person/lead on the chapter’s
community schools work

WHERE can you find more resources?

Sample Presentations to Executive Boards/Rep Councils

1. Twin Rivers UE presentation to Executive Board
2. Twin Rivers UE presentation to Rep Council

Sample Executive Board/Rep Council Resolutions

1. Hacienda La Puente TA Executive Board Resolution
2. Montebello TA Rep Council Resolution

WHAT are the goals at this stage?
Members understand the importance and potential benefits of community schools and embrace chapter involvement.

WHAT concrete objectives should you work toward?
Regular communication and engagement with all members regarding community schools – the Why, updates on district activities
and district/chapter collaboration (or lack thereof), celebrate wins and accomplishments, etc. Communication should be twoway,
both sharing information out to members and listening to members’ suggestions and concerns. Member feedback should
inform chapter actions.

WHY are these goals and objectives important?
Member support is essential for a sustainable community schools initiative; if it remains completely leadership-driven, chapter
leadership will constantly have to expend time and energy encouraging members to participate and support when members
don’t see the value of the community schools.
Good communication also makes sure members are informed, knowledgeable and onboard, which will be especially important if
the district resists and the chapter is forced to organize a pressure campaign.

HOW can you achieve these goals and objectives?
• Develop a member engagement plan
• Send out/publicize Executive Board/Rep Council resolutions in support of community schools
• Road show/site visits – listen, explain, answer questions, build support
• Public forum – listen, explain, answer questions, build support
• Zoom meetings – listen, explain, answer questions, build support; post recordings/highlights to chapter website
• Newsletters and print communications
• Digital communications, social media
• Form a Community Schools Committee and draw on a diverse cross-section of members to work toward community
schools and advise the organizing team and/or bargaining team or whichever group is driving the chapter’s community
schools work.

WHERE can you find more resources?

Sample Member Communications

1. Twin Rivers UE presentation to members
2.  Anaheim Secondary TA community schools site visit presentation and script (August 8 & 9, 2022)
3. TA Long Beach Community Schools Call to Action

Member Feedback Gathering Tools

1. CTA Local Site Visit and Release Time Grant:
   a. Local Site Visit and Release Time Grant guidelines (starting page 4) and FAQs
   b. Local Site Visit and Release Time Grant application (apply online or download pdf )
2. CTA Member Engagement Grant applications:
   a. Member Engagement Grant guidelines
   b. Member Engagement Grant application
3. Lennox TA, LCAP Input Posters, 2019-20 – pdf and Word – not directly related to community schools, but could be adapted to collect member input on community schools
   a. Lennox TA, blank Input Posters – Word
4. Lennox TA, LCAP SGRM-Focus Group Protocols, 2019-20 – pdf and Word

WHAT are the goals at this stage?
Families and the community understand the importance and potential benefits of community schools to students, educators,
families, and the community, and embrace union-community partnerships.

WHAT concrete objectives should you work toward?
Regular communication with families and the community regarding community schools – the Why, updates on district activities
and district/chapter collaboration (or lack thereof), celebrate wins and accomplishments, etc. Communication should be twoway,
both sharing information out to the community and listening to the community’s suggestions and concerns. Community
feedback should inform chapter actions.

WHY are these goals and objectives important?
To be true to community school models and values, families and the community MUST be involved as equals and co-leaders.
Having partnerships with families and the community will help ensure that the district engages in an open, inclusive planning and
implementation process and agrees to shared-leadership proposals.

HOW can you achieve these goals and objectives?

• Form a chapter Community Engagement Team and train members to speak with/listen to community members and community groups (provide them with talking points). Coordinate with the chapter’s organizing team and/or bargaining team or whichever group is driving the chapter’s community schools work.
• Do community mapping to identify potential allies
• Do a power analysis of the community to identify influential people/organizations, potential allies, and roadblocks
• Develop a community engagement plan
• Send out/publicize Executive Board/Rep Council resolutions in support of community schools
• Visits parent centers at schools and local community centers, attend community meetings and events, organize house
  meetings – explain, answer questions, build support
• Community Zoom meetings – listen, explain, answer questions, build support; post recordings/highlights to chapter website
• Parent-targeted newsletters and print communications
• Parent-targeted digital communications, social media
  • Remember that communications with parents may be more effective if they are multilingual

• Reach out to and develop more formal relationships with like-minded community organizations
• Consider contacting local press and local elected officials about the benefits of community schools and the current
  opportunities, and the importance of an open, inclusive planning and implementation process and shared leadership

WHERE can you find more resources?

Sample Community Communications

1. Twin Rivers presentation to the community

2. TA Long Beach Community Schools Call to Action

Community Feedback Gathering Tools

1. Lennox TA, LCAP Input Posters, 2019-20 – pdf and Word – not directly related to community schools, but could be
adapted to collect community input on community schools
a. Lennox TA, LCAP Input Posters, sample parent feedback, 2019-20 – pdf

2. Lennox TA, LCAP parent flyers, 2019-20 – pdf and Word

Community Engagement Resources

1. Community mapping tools – CTA 7 Steps to Community Engagement toolkit
2. Power analysis tools – CTA 7 Steps to Community Engagement toolkit

WHAT are the goals at this stage?
District commits to an open, inclusive, and collaborative planning and implementation process that includes students, educators,
families, and the community.

WHAT concrete objectives should you work toward?
School board passes a resolution endorsing community schools and committing the district to engage interest-holders in an
open, inclusive, collaborative planning and implementation process.

District signs an MOU agreeing to engage interest-holders in an open, inclusive, collaborative planning and implementation
process.

Regular planning and/or implementation meetings are held involving a variety of interest-holders with different perspectives. All
input is considered and impacts the design of the community schools plan and/or implementation.
An open, inclusive, multi-lingual, multi-modal community needs assessment is conducted to determine which schools should
participate as well as what services and supports the community believes they need.

Community School Coordinator positions are collaboratively developed, flown, and hired (and possibly negotiated) for each
community school. During the planning phase, Community School Coordinators focus on building relationships with the
community and making the needs assessment more inclusive by engaging with traditionally underserved and under-listened-to
members of the community.

WHY are these goals and objectives important?
Without an MOU between the district and unions, the district is under no legal or regulatory obligation to collaborate with
educators, unions, or the community. Ideally, the district will welcome open, inclusive collaboration, or can at least be reasoned
with and convinced to collaborate, but a stubborn/intransigent district will need to be pushed to collaborate through chapter and
community organizing and public pressure campaigns.

HOW can you achieve these goals and objectives?
Create an organizing plan focused on ensuring an open, inclusive, and collaborative planning and implementation process. As we
work through the first and second rounds of Community School Grants, we are seeing three distinct starting positions from
districts, each of which will require a different organizing response from chapters and the community to secure an open,
inclusive, and collaborative planning and implementation process:
a. uninformed
b. interested and willing to plan collaboratively with unions and other interest-holders
c. interested but unwilling to plan collaboratively with unions or other interest-holders

Each district stance will require a different response from chapters and communities during the application and planning phases,
working toward the goal of inclusive and collaborative planning and implementation.

How to achieve your goals and objectives if the district is: ( Click Here for Details )

• Uninformed
• Interested and willing to plan collaboratively with unions and other interest-holders
• Interested but unwilling to plan collaboratively with unions or other interest-holders

WHERE can you find more resources?

Sample School Board Resolutions and Policies

1. NEA, Sample Resolution for Community Schools Model of School Improvement
2. Los Angeles USD, School Board Resolution: Embracing Community School Strategies in the Los Angeles Unified School District (June 13, 2017)
3. San Diego USD, School Board Resolution: Supporting the San Diego Community Schools Coalition (July 28, 2020)
a. San Diego USD/San Diego TA, Community Schools Implementation presentation

4. Anaheim UHSD Board Policy 91300 Parent and Family Engagement

Bargaining Tools & Sample MOUs on Planning and Implementation

1. CTA C4OB, Community Schools Organizing and Bargaining Strategies Advisory (October 3, 2022) – Includes sample request for information and demand to bargain letters
a. sample demand to bargain letter (Sacramento City TA)
2. CTA, sample MOU language on community schools
3. UTLA, Tentative Agreement on Community Schools (January 20, 2019)
4. UTLA, Beyond Recovery proposal (May 27, 2022) – includes community school language
5. Twin Rivers UE, proposal on planning, implementation, and steering (January 11, 2022)
6. CACS, draft contract language on community schools (June 2022)
a. CACS, Contract Campaign Coordination document (May 19, 2022)
7. Anaheim Secondary TA, MOU on release time for Association Community Schools Lead, final (May 24, 2022)
8. Anaheim City Council, resolution supporting community schools (September 2022)
9. Anaheim Secondary TA, contract language on community schools (October 25, 2022)
10. Montebello TA, Tentative Agreement on Community Schools (January 12, 2023)
11. UT Richmond, Tentative Agreement on Community Schools (February 10, 2023)
12. NEA – Jurupa, MOU on Community Schools (March 8, 2023)
13. Sacramento City TA PERB Complaint vs. Sacramento City USD (March 10, 2023) – formal complaint against the district for
unilaterally imposing a community schools model and refusing to bargain the effects of that community schools model
14. Natomas TA, MOU on Community Schools (March 16, 2023)
15. San Diego EA Tentative Agreement on Community Schools (April 10 & May 25, 2023)
16. Los Angeles Unified School District, United Teachers Los Angeles Tentative Agreement 2022-2025 (April 24, 2023) – see pages 132-142

17. Oakland EA Community Schools Grant Agreement (May 13, 2023)

18. Alhambra TA Community Schools MOU (September 8, 2023)

19. Whittier ETA Community Schools MOU (October 26, 2023)

20. UT Pasadena Community School MOU (November 17, 2023)

Sample Agendas/Minutes from Planning and Implementation Meetings

1. Anaheim UHSD/Anaheim Secondary TA, Community Schools Meeting Agenda, 8-31-22 (August 21, 2022)

Sample Needs Assessment Tools

1. Anaheim UHSD/Anaheim Secondary TA, Needs and Assets Assessment Process (March 2022)

Sample Community School Job Descriptions

1. Anaheim UHSD, Community Schools Teacher Lead Job Description (June 2022)
2. Anaheim UHSD, Community Schools Teacher Lead Interview Questions (June 2022)

News Articles

1. EdSource, “California teachers call on their districts for contractual commitment to community schools,” (January 27, 2023)
2. California Educator, “United Teachers of Richmond Wins Tentative Agreement,” (February 13, 2023)
3. EdSource, “Oakland students to return to classroom Tuesday after week-plus strike,” (May 15, 2023)
4. EdSource, “Teachers unions demand housing, transportation and other student supports during negotiations,” (May 26, 2023)
5. CA Educator magazine, “Jurupa: Collaboration is Key to Community Schools Success,” (May 2, 2023)
6. CA Educator magazine, “Community Schools Agreement in San Diego,” (June 21, 2023)

WHAT are the goals at this stage?
District commits to a permanent, ongoing, open, inclusive, and collaborative shared-decision-making governance structure for
the community schools that includes students, educators, families, and the community.

WHAT concrete objectives should you work toward?
District agrees to permanent contract language describing the shared-decision-making governance structure of the community
schools, including:
• who will be part of the “Steering Committee,”
• who will select/elect/appoint Steering Committee members,
• how often the Steering Committee will meet,
• the scope of the Steering Committee’s authority, and
• how Steering Committee decisions will be made.

The ideal (the “gold standard”) would be to have permanent contract language on shared governance signed before the district
applies for an Implementation Grant, but more realistically (the “silver standard”), the chapter may have to negotiate a shared
governance agreement during early implementation. But be advised – it will be more difficult to secure agreement and shape
the governance structure once the district has begun to implement its own model. Delay and it will become a struggle to
restructure what has already been put in place rather than to establish something correctly and inclusively from the inception.

WHY are these goals and objectives important?
For long-term stability and success of a democratic community schools model, leadership structures and authorities must be
written, clear and binding on all parties (particularly districts). This is what guarantees that educators and community members
will have a voice and shared leadership with school and district leaders.

HOW can you achieve these goals and objectives?
Create an organizing plan and escalating campaign to publicly pressure the district to come to agreement on a permanent,
ongoing shared-decision-making governance structure. This may require levels of organizing and coordination with community
allies on par with what chapters are accustomed to doing during contract negotiations over traditional subjects like salary and
benefits. [And again, THIS is why building member support and community coalitions in prior steps is essential.]

Develop a system of regular communication to keep members and the community informed on community schools governance
as well as successes and challenges. This will help sustain engagement, transparent governance, and maintain public pressure on
the district to continue to be a good partner.

WHERE can you find more resources?

Sample Contract Language on Permanent Steering Committees

1. UTLA, Tentative Agreement on Community Schools (January 20, 2019)
2. Anaheim Secondary TA, contract language on community schools (October 25, 2022)
3. Oakland EA Draft Contract Language on Community Schools (November 2022)
4. Montebello TA, Tentative Agreement on Community Schools (January 12, 2023)
5. UT Richmond, Tentative Agreement on Community Schools (February 10, 2023)
6. NEA – Jurupa, MOU on Community Schools (March 8, 2023)
7. Natomas TA, MOU on Community Schools (March 16, 2023)
8. San Diego EA Tentative Agreement on Community Schools (April 10 & May 25, 2023)
9. UTLA, updated Tentative Agreement on Community Schools, p132-142 (April 24, 2023)
10. Alhambra TA, MOU on Community Schools (September 8, 2023) 

11. Alhambra TA Community Schools MOU (September 8, 2023)

12. Whittier ETA Community Schools MOU (October 26, 2023)

13. UT Pasadena Community School MOU (November 17, 2023)

Sample Community Schools Operational Documents

1. San Diego USD Community Schools Steering Committee Bylaws (Revised 9-9-22)

2. San Diego USD In-District Community School Designation Application, 2023-24

1. National Education Association (NEA), The Six Pillars of Community Schools Toolkit: NEA Resource Guide for Educators, Families, and Communities
2. NEA System-Level Structures for Effective Community School Implementation & Support

1) Community Schools Implementation Team
2) Community School Steering Committees
3) Community-wide Community School Collective Impact Committee
4) Sample MOU language in Appendix B

3. NEA Midwest Academy Strategic Campaign Institute for Community Schools, overview flier
4. NEA Midwest Academy Strategic Campaign Institute for Community Schools, self-assessment categories
5. Partnership for the Future of Learning, Community Schools Playbook
a. Section 3: Messaging: How to Effectively Communicate for Community Schools
6. Reclaim Our Schools LA, The Schools Students and Families Deserve: The Community Schools Model as a Blueprint for Transforming Public Education in Los Angeles
7. Learning Policy Institute, community schools resources webpage
a. “Funding community schools in California,” Burns, D., Griffith, M., & Maier, A. (2023)
b. Social Media Toolkit: Community Schools as an Effective School Improvement Strategy – graphics in English and Spanish
c. Professional Learning Series on Community Schools – recorded webinars
8. Sobrato Early Academic Language – Research Brief: Centering Multilingual Families in California Community Schools

1. CTA President’s letter (January 6, 2022)
2. CTA, Community Schools webpage (includes videos and downloadable information)
3. CTA, Community Schools 1-page flier (September 23, 2022)
4. CTA, Community Schools 101 factsheet
5. CTA, Community Schools: What Are They and How Can We Win Them? presentation
6. CTA, Community Schools: CDE/SBE Update (1/19/22) presentation
7. CTA, Community Schools: CDE/SBE Update (2/16/22) presentation
8. CTA, 5 Steps to Community Schools, Version 1.0
9. CTA, television ads:
a. Community Schools – All of Us
b. Community Schools – Community
c. Community Schools – Educators
d. Las Escuelas Comunitarias de California

1. Alternet, “How the increasingly popular community schools model is boosting rural America,” (September 17, 2021)
2. CA Educator magazine, “Community Schools: Building the Heart and Hub,” (October 12, 2021)
3. EdSource, “California ready to launch $3 billion, multiyear transition to community schools,” (January 21, 2022)
4. EdSource, “Every school can, and should, be a community school,” (March 6, 2022)
5. EdSource, “California set to launch hundreds of community schools with $635 million in grants,” (May 12, 2022)
6. EdSource, “California must consider rural districts’ unique realities for community schools grants,” (May 18, 2022)
7. EdSource, “Let’s advance racial justice through community schools,” (May 23, 2022)
8. EdSource, “How an East Bay school turns into a community school under California’s model,” (June 10, 2022)
9. KQED, “California Launched a $3 Billion Community Schools Grant Program, Some Say More Funds Needed to Meet Demand,” (June 13, 2022)
10. EdSource, “Advocates for community schools support more funding but call for fixes to program,” (June 17, 2022)
11. LAist, “What Are ‘Community Schools’? And Why Is California Betting Big That They’ll Remake Public Education?” (July 7, 2022)
12. KCRW, “CA takes big bet on community schools. Will it pay off?” (November 22, 2022)
13. The Brookings Institute, “Why local leaders should champion ‘community schools’ to improve student, family, and neighborhood well-being,” (December 12, 2022)
14. EdSource, “The clock is ticking on community schools,” (April 4, 2023)
15. EdSource, “Don’t leave students with disabilities out of California’s massive community schools investment,” (May 1, 2023)
16. EdSource, “Teachers unions demand housing, transportation and other student supports during negotiations,” (May 26, 2023)
17. EdSource, “Community schools model should lift a heavy burden off teachers. Will it last?” (June 13, 2023)
18. CalMatters, “Schools in poorer neighborhoods struggle to keep teachers. How offering them more power might help,” (June 13, 2023)

Memo Durgin
he/him
mdurgin@cta.org

Taunya Jaco
District G

Michael Flores-Castañeda
he/him
mcastaneda@cta.org

Eva Ruiz
District F

Aisha Blanchard-Young
she/her
ablanchard-young@cta.org

Chris Bushée
District I

Lisa Adams
she/her
ladams@cta.org

Kisha Borden
District P

Local Leaders

Kampala Taiz Rancifer
Oakland EA 2nd VP

Leslie Hu
UESF Secretary

State Leaders

Taunya Jaco
District G

Staff

Memo Durgin
CTA C4OB Staff

Muni Citrin
CTA C4OB Staff

State Leaders

Eva Ruiz
District F

Staff

Michael Flores-
Castaneda
CTA HRD Staff

State Leaders

Chris Bushée
District I

Partners

Arelia Valdivia
ROS – LA

Staff

Aisha Blanchard-Young
CTA HRD Staff

Brian Guerrero
CTA IPD Staff

Esperanza Martinez
UTLA Staff

Local Leaders

Rosa Martinez
Chula Vista Edu Pres

Grant Schuster
Anaheim Sec TA Pres

Kyle Weinberg
San Diego EA President

State Leaders

Kisha Borden
District P

Staff

Lisa Adams
CTA HRD Staff

David Goldberg
CTA President

Paul Barragan
CTA Region 2 Ast ED

Seth Bramble
CTA GR Staff

Romalda Lara
CTA HRD Staff

Efrain Mercado
CTA GR Staff

Monica Thammarath
CTA HRD Manager

Katharine Fong
CTA Comms Staff

Anna Grant
NEA CS Consultant

Marissa Glidden
NEA CS Consultant

Kyle Serrette
NEA CS Director