Frequently Asked Questions

California Community Schools Partnership Program FAQ

What is the California Community Schools Partnership Program (CCSPP)?
The California legislature appropriated almost $3 billion for the CCSPP, to support and expand community schools until June 30, 2028. There are two types of CCSPP grants which will be awarded to begin in the 2022–23 fiscal year: (1) planning grants for up to $200,000, for up to two years, for local educational agencies (LEAs) with no existing community schools; and (2) implementation grants for LEAs who have an existing community schools program. Implementation grants will be funded for up to 5 years, for up to $500,000 annually per school site, determined by school enrollment levels. There will be two rounds of planning grants and at least three rounds of implementation grants. There is also a technical assistance component to the CCSPP to be developed over the course of the seven-year program period.
Where can LEAs find legislation on the CCSPP?
CCSPP funding has been appropriated as part of California Assembly Bill (AB) 130, Section 8, Chapter 6, and the Budget Act of 2021.
How does the CCSPP define a community school?
Per statute, the CCSPP defines a community school as a public school serving preschool, kindergarten, or any of grades one through twelve, inclusive, and includes the following:
1. Integrated support services, including the coordination of health, mental health, and social services that ensure coordination and support with county and local educational agency resources, and early screening and intervention for learning and other needs.
2. Family and community engagement, which may include home visits, home-school collaboration, community partnerships, and school climate surveys.
3. Collaborative leadership practices for educators and administrators, including professional development to support mental and behavioral health, trauma-informed care, social-emotional learning, restorative justice, and other key areas.
4. Extended learning time and opportunities, including before and after school care and summer programs.
The CCSPP is also guided by the new California Community Schools Framework (Framework) adopted by the State Board of Education at its January 2022 meeting. This Framework identifies the essential elements of a California Community School and expands upon the definition set out in statute. Successful applicants will commit to designing and implementing community schools programs that meet both the definition provided in statute and the priorities outlined in the Framework.
Who is eligible to apply for the CCSPP grants?
LEAs located in and operating public schools in California are eligible to apply for CCSPP funds. The CCSPP defines an LEA as a school district, county office of education, or charter school. Multiple qualifying LEAs may apply together as a consortium.

The CCSPP defines a Qualifying Entity as:
1. LEA that meets any of the following:
  - Fifty percent or more of the enrolled pupils at the LEA are unduplicated pupils.
  - The LEA has higher than state average dropout rates.
  - The LEA has higher than state average rates of suspension and expulsion.
  - The LEA has higher than state average rates of child homelessness, foster youth, or justice-involved youth.
2. A school that is not within a LEA that satisfies any of the criteria listed above, but the school demonstrates two or more of the criteria, and the school demonstrates other factors that warrant the school’s consideration, including, but not limited to, fulfilling an exceptional need or providing service to a particular target population.
3. A LEA or consortium, on behalf of one or more schools that are qualifying entities within the LEA or consortium.
4. A county behavioral health agency that will operate the program in partnership with at least one LEA that is a qualifying entity.
5. A federal Head Start or Early Head Start program or other government-funded early childhood program or agency that will operate the program in partnership with at least one LEA that is a qualifying entity.
6. A childcare program or agency within a public institution of higher education that will operate the program in partnership with at least one LEA that is a qualifying entity.
How will the CDE determine whether an LEA has or does not have an existing community school and is eligible for an implementation or planning grant respectively?
LEA grant applicants must use the definition provided in statute (see the definition in the answer to Question #4 above) to determine whether or not they have an existing community school.
Can a qualifying school within an LEA that does not meet the overall qualifying criteria receive a CCSPP grant on its own?
No. A school that meets at least two of the qualifying criteria can make an LEA that does not meet the qualifying criteria eligible to apply for a CCSPP grant. However, since the CCSPP is funded through Proposition 98 funds, only an LEA can apply for and receive funding as the fiscal agent of a CCSPP grant.
Can multiple schools in a single district apply as a consortium?
The CCSPP defines a ‘consortium’ as multiple eligible LEAs applying together for a single CCSPP grant. LEAs are encouraged to apply on behalf of multiple schools as a network. Schools in a network can be in the same LEA, or from multiple LEAs applying as a consortium.
Can an LEA apply for both a planning and implementation grant in the current application round?
No. An LEA can apply for a planning grant, if it currently has no community schools as defined by California Education Code 8900–8902. (see the definition from California Education Code (EC) above in the answer to question #4) An LEA that currently has a community schools program can apply for an implementation grant and is allowed to use implementation grant funding to both start new community schools as well as to expand and continue existing community schools.
Can an LEA be an applicant on more than one application for an implementation grant?
No. An LEA can only participate as an applicant in one implementation grant application per application round. That is, an LEA cannot apply on its own and at the same time as a member of an LEA consortium in a separate CCSPP grant application. LEAs awarded implementation grants in the current application round can apply for different schools in future rounds.
Can LEAs applying separately for planning and/or implementation grants work together as a ‘consortium’ in practice?
LEAs with separate CCSPP grants are encouraged to work together and learn from each other where appropriate.
Can a school be included in more than one CCSPP grant application?
No. A school may only be included in one CCSPP application.
How do cooperating organizations support the CCSPP? Can a cooperating organization be the sole applicant for a CCSPP grant?
Cooperating organizations are critical partners in the implementation of the community schools model. However, since the CCSPP is funded through Proposition 98 funds, only LEAs are eligible to apply for this funding and to serve as the fiscal agent of CCSPP grant awards. Cooperating agencies and early childhood education providers such as Head Start Programs are encouraged to partner with an eligible LEA(s) to apply for a CCSPP grant, in order to provide supports and services through service contracts.
Does a community school grant applicant have to be a partner in a consortium?
No, eligible LEA applicants can apply as a single LEA and/or on behalf of a single school.

Note: Planning grant applicants have the option to, but are not required to, designate the schools that will ultimately be a part of their implementation phase.
When applying for an implementation grant, do applicants have to submit the names of the schools they are applying for?
Yes, each LEA must submit a full list of schools they are applying in order to be considered for an implementation grant. Schools included in the application must be listed on Attachment I: the CCSPP LEA and Site Participation Sheet. This listing is required for both schools where the applicant intends to continue or expand services and for the new schools that the applicant plans to establish. Principals from each school site must sign Form A (add pages as needed), along with the superintendent.
How will the CDE determine qualification and prioritization for grant awards? By LEA or by school site?
Eligibility is determined by the LEA applicant(s) per the eligibility criteria listed above (see question #4 above). If the LEA applicant does not meet the eligibility criteria but has a school that meets two or more of the eligibility criteria the LEA is eligible to apply. In this case, data for the school is used to establish eligibility and the LEA applicant must indicate the school which is being used to establish eligibility to apply in its application on both Form A and the LEA and Site Participation Sheet.

Both the application questionnaire and demonstration of need will be utilized for prioritization for grant awards. The measures used in the demonstration of need will be pulled by CDE at the LEA level for planning grant applicants and at both LEA and school site level (for the school sites identified in the application) for implementation grant applicants. The CDE will use a weighted method to score the measures included in the demonstration of need element of the application.

The CDE will be pulling data used to determine eligibility and evaluate the demonstration of need from the California Longitudinal Pupil Achievement Data System (CALPADS) and DataQuest. Applicants do not need to include the data listed in the Evaluation Criteria section of the RFA.
Are matching funds required for funding?
Yes, AB 130 states that grants shall be matched by the qualifying entity or its cooperating agencies with a local match equal to one-third of the grant amount.
Can in-kind contributions be used as match?
Yes, the CCSPP will consider an in-kind match as a match of funds. Match funds may be from the LEA, cooperating organizations, and/or provider partners. This is especially important in the CCSPP because partners provide many important support services such as medical, mental health and social services.
Should LEAs anticipate monitoring or auditing of CCSPP funds?
Yes, the CDE will monitor the use of the CCSPP funds. In addition, the CCSPP grantees are required to provide the CDE with data in order for the CDE to provide a comprehensive report to the legislature by December 31, 2025.

March 25, 2022
California Department of Education