Exploring the Implementation of the California Community Schools Partnership Program Through LEA Expenditure

• In Event: Money Talks: Implementing and Interpreting Values Through Education Finance Policy

Abstract

This study examines how Local Education Agencies (LEAs) in California are implementing the California Community Schools Partnership Program (CCSPP) by analyzing expenditure data from a random sample of 33 LEAs in their first year of grant-funded implementation. Using a mixed-methods approach, we explore how spending patterns, particularly around personnel, align with the CCSPP’s four foundational pillars and recommended proven practices for community schooling. Findings show variation in spending across certificated and classified personnel, with the role of the Community School Coordinator emerging as central but differently defined across contexts. While some LEAs emphasize student-facing supports, others prioritize administrative and partnership coordination. This study offers an early, descriptive look at how implementation decisions reflect diverse interpretations of the community school model.

Authors

• Andres Fernandez-Vergara, University of California - Los Angeles

• Dandan Yang, University of California - Los Angeles

• Marisa Saunders, University of California - Los Angeles