Education Code section 8903
(a)
(1)The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:(A)
The California Community Schools Partnership Act, established as part of the Budget Act of 2021, is a key initiative of California’s historic whole-child transformation of public schools built on the state board-adopted California Community Schools Framework. This model of education incorporates state investments in universal free school meals, universal transitional kindergarten, before and after school learning, career and college readiness, and investments in teacher training, coaching, recruitment, and retention, resulting in a cohesive program of instructional quality and removing barriers to learning, and collaborative leadership.(B)
Implementation of the community schools model results in better home-school connections, academic supports, nutrition, after school and summer school enrichment and care, trauma-informed behavioral and physical health services, and access to social services.(C)
The California Community Schools Framework specifies the pillars of a successful community schools model that results in transformational outcomes: integrated pupil supports, family and community engagement, collaborative leadership and practices for educators and administrators, and extended learning time and opportunities. Successful community school models in California implement this framework with fidelity. It is the intent of the Legislature that the California Community Schools Framework be periodically revised to incorporate updated research and identified needs for statewide school and system improvement.(D)
Research indicates that schools that received grants pursuant to the California Community Schools Partnership Act show significant reductions in chronic absenteeism and suspensions, and improvements in test scores and academic achievement, with the largest gains for historically underserved pupils.(E)
Expansion of the community schools model will increase these positive outcomes, especially for schools that have large concentrations of pupils from low-income families, English language learners, and youth in foster care.(b)
(1)(A)For the 2026–27 fiscal year, the Legislature shall initially appropriate the sum of one billion dollars ($1,000,000,000) from the General Fund to the department to administer the California Community Schools Partnership Program in the manner and for the purposes set forth in this chapter.(B)
This amount may be adjusted each year through Item 6100-115-0001 of the annual Budget Act to provide sufficient funding, pursuant to the formula described in subdivision (c), to all eligible schoolsites that participate in the program.(2)
Funds received pursuant to this section shall be used in accordance with the California Community Schools Framework, as adopted by the state board. These funds shall be used to implement community schools supported by local networks and to implement shared decisionmaking practices with education interestholders and shall not be used for punitive disciplinary practices or the engagement of campus law enforcement.(3)
Funds distributed pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (c) shall supplement, not supplant, funding used for services and supports at eligible schoolsites through the local control funding formula pursuant to Section 2574, 2575, or 42238.02, the Expanded Learning Opportunities Program pursuant to Section 46120, or the Literacy Coaches and Reading Specialists Grant Program established pursuant to Section 53008.5, 53008.7, 53009, and 53009.1.(c)
Funds appropriated pursuant to subdivision (b) shall be distributed each fiscal year as follows:(1)
(A)(i)To local educational agencies to support a network of their eligible schoolsites to implement new, and provide ongoing support for existing, community schools consistent with subparagraphs (B) and (C).(ii)
The allocation calculated pursuant to subparagraph (B) shall be used as to support either a planning period of up to two years pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (e) or the implementation phase described in paragraph (2) of subdivision (e). Schoolsites that are ready to implement shall submit to the department a community school plan and evidence of ongoing progress as part of the annual formative evaluation requirements specified by the department pursuant to subdivision (m) of Section 8902.(B)
(i)Commencing with the 2026–27 fiscal year, for each local educational agency with an eligible schoolsite, the department shall make one of the following computations for each eligible schoolsite based on the following as adjusted pursuant to subparagraph (C):(ii)
Commencing with the 2027–28 fiscal year, the amounts to be computed per eligible schoolsite identified in clause (i) shall be adjusted each fiscal year by the percentage change applied pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (d) of Section 42238.02 for that fiscal year.(iv)
Notwithstanding clause (iii), the department may establish procedures to determine mid-year adjustments to eligibility in cases of an eligible schoolsite restructuring.(C)
An eligible schoolsite that receives an implementation grant pursuant to Section 8902 shall, for the term of its implementation grant, have the allocation listed in subparagraph (B) reduced consistent with the following:(i)
If the total amount of a schoolsite’s implementation grant, divided by five, is greater than or equal to the amount listed in subparagraph (B) for the number of pupils enrolled, the schoolsite shall instead receive no funding under this paragraph for that fiscal year.(ii)
If the total amount of a schoolsite’s implementation grant, divided by five, is less than the amount listed in subparagraph (B) for the number of pupils enrolled, the schoolsite shall instead receive the difference between the total implementation grant amount, divided by five, and the amount specified in subparagraph (B) for the number of pupils enrolled for that fiscal year.(D)
(i)Funds received under this paragraph shall be used for activities consistent with the purposes identified in subdivisions (g) and (h) of Section 8902.(ii)
A schoolsite that, at the time of the receipt of funds, has not conducted the planning needed to develop the schoolsite implementation plan required pursuant to subparagraph (C) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (e), shall use the initial funding to develop an implementation plan that demonstrates alignment with the California Community Schools Framework.(E)
(i)On or before November 1, 2026, a local educational agency with an eligible schoolsite shall notify the department of its intent to receive for each eligible schoolsite an allocation under this paragraph as part of the 2026–27 fiscal year cohort, in a manner to be determined by the department. The notification shall include an initial attestation to the department of the local educational agency’s commitment to implementing the community schools model in accordance with the Community School framework and state law. The notification shall also include assurances declaring the local educational agency collected signed commitment letters from education interestholders, including, but not limited to, the superintendent of the school district, schoolsite principals, and representatives of teachers, noncertificated staff, pupils, and parents.(ii)
A local educational agency with an eligible schoolsite that is not currently receiving funding pursuant to Section 8902 may submit the required notification of its intent to receive an allocation during an annual June 1 opt-in period. Eligible local educational agencies that opt-in by November 1, 2026, or by June 1 of each year shall be eligible to receive apportionment funding as part of a new cohort beginning in the next academic year. A local educational agency shall notify the department about its intent for planning phase or implementation phase status as part of the opt-in process.(2)
(A)Ten million dollars ($10,000,000) to the department to select, subject to the approval of the executive director of the state board, at least one local educational agency to implement the technical assistance structure and network described in Section 8902 and support the ongoing certification process. Funds shall also be used to provide support and assistance to local educational agencies on an ongoing basis so they can implement the community schools model in accordance with the Community Schools framework and ultimately help their schoolsites maintain their certification. Preference shall be given to county offices of education that commit to partnering with institutions of higher education, nonprofit community-based organizations, and school districts and schoolsites that demonstrate strong implementation of the community schools approach as outlined in the Community Schools framework, as determined by the department with input from education interestholders. The responsibilities of transformational assistance centers shall be aligned with those identified in paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) of Section 8902.(B)
The department shall determine the terms, including duration, for each transformational assistance center, subject to the approval of the executive director of the state board. The department shall have the authority to renew the selection of the existing transformational assistance centers or reopen the selection process, at the conclusion of each grant term. To determine funding for the transformational assistance structure, the department shall take into consideration the number of community school sites supported by the technical assistance structure.(C)
Technical assistance shall be provided in consultation and collaboration with the statewide system of support established pursuant to Section 52059.5.(D)
Of the amount provided in subparagraph (A), two million dollars ($2,000,000) shall be allocated to the local educational agency serving as the state transformational assistance center. The responsibilities of the state transformational assistance center shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:(i)
Serve as a lead entity within the statewide system of support and work collaboratively with the California Collaborative for Educational Excellence, the department, lead agencies in the system, and state agencies that support the implementation of community schools.(ii)
Serve as a centralized hub for the transformational assistance structure to facilitate a coordinated and aligned approach for the ongoing implementation of the community schools initiative.(iv)
On or before October 31, 2029, submit a report to the Legislature, consistent with Section 9795 of the Government Code, outlining the certification process informed by the study.(E)
A local educational agency receiving funding under this paragraph shall commit to providing program and expenditure data to the department, as specified by the department, and participating in program evaluation and improvement efforts.(d)
(1)The department shall allocate funding appropriated in Item 6100-115-0001 of the annual Budget Act to county offices of education to coordinate county-level governmental, nonprofit community-based organizations, and other external partnerships to support community school implementation at grant recipients in their county. This shall include designating a county-level community schools liaison to coordinate with the department and technical assistance centers in capacity building, resource connection, and continuous improvement activities consistent with supporting grant recipients in their county in implementation of community schools, consistent with the Community Schools framework, as specified in subdivision (e). County office of education grant award amounts under this paragraph shall be determined based on the number of community schools funded pursuant to this section, and the number of pupils served in those schools, using an allocation formula determined by the department, and provide at least two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000) and up to five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) annually, for each qualifying county office of education. These funds are separate from any funds county offices of education receive pursuant to subdivision (f) for serving as qualifying entities to a network of community schools.(2)
A county office of education that receives funds pursuant to this subdivision shall support centralized grant recipient communications with county-level governmental partners and funding sources, which may include, but not be limited to, pupil support and health care service billing and billing practices technical assistance, leading a County Children’s Cabinet, and coordination with Promise Neighborhoods lead organizations and agencies.(3)
A county offices of education that receives funds pursuant to this subdivision shall do all of the following:(A)
Support local educational agency planning and use of pupil and campus data consistent with the guidance of the System of Support Equity Leads, and the state transformational assistance center, for integrating community school, expanded learning, early childhood education, county behavioral health, educator professional development, and other state-funded initiatives integral to the pillars of a community school approach as described in subdivision (b) of Section 8901 and the California Community Schools Partnership Framework described in Section 8901.5, which may be part of the qualifying entity’s local control and accountability plan process pursuant to Section 47606.5, 52060, or 52066, as applicable.(B)
Facilitate professional development and continuous improvement practices, consistent with the Transformational Assistance network, including, but not limited to, communities of practice.(C)
Provide fiscal and programmatic reports to the department as requested, regarding the implementation status and needs of local educational agencies in the county.(D)
Coordinate internally with other county offices of education and other county programs and services that can uplift and support the whole child, with the overall goal of moving towards fully integrating county-level community schools implementation supports and services into the larger statewide system of support by embedding these supports and services within the county’s universal and targeted assistance approach once one-time coordination grants conclude.(4)
As a condition of receiving funding pursuant to this subdivision, a county office of education shall adhere to the County Coordination key practices consistent with the Community Schools framework, and provide the annual reporting required by the department and the state transformational assistance center.(e)
As a condition of receiving funding pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (c), a local educational agency shall maintain its community schools pursuant to the Community Schools framework and criteria developed by the transformational assistance structure in partnership with education interestholders, consistent with all of the following:(1)
(A)A local educational agency with schoolsites that are new to the community schools model may use up to two years of its initial apportionment funds to conduct the planning needed to develop a community schools implementation plan pursuant to subparagraph (C) paragraph (2). Upon the conclusion of this 24 month planning period, the local educational agency shall be required to provide the implementation plan to department and move into the implementation phase.(B)
Funds for planning shall be used to support any of the following:(i)
Staffing costs for a community school coordinator.(ii)
Conducting a comprehensive school and community needs and asset assessment, including, but not limited to, pupil and community demographics, school climate, integrated support services, expanded learning time, educator, family, pupil, and community engagement, new or existing partnerships with governmental entities or community-based organizations, and available funding sources.(iv)
Partnership development and coordination support between the grantee and cooperating agencies, including, but not limited to, a Promise Neighborhood lead agency.(v)
Providing training and support to local educational agency and cooperating agency personnel to develop best practices for integrating instruction and pupil supports.(vi)
Preparing a community school implementation plan for submission to the governing board or body of the local educational agency and to the department.(ix)
Implementing social-emotional learning and restorative practices.(x)
Strengthening behavioral health care supports, including, but not limited to, implementation of the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative Fee Schedule pursuant to Section 5961.4 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.(xi)
Leveraging partnerships to facilitate the whole-child inventory and integrated supports for pupils and schoolsite staff.(C)
A local educational agency that has not provided the department with a satisfactory implementation plan for an eligible schoolsite, as required pursuant to subparagraph (C) of paragraph (2), within 24 months of initial apportionment, shall have the apportionment for that eligible schoolsite subtracted by the department in the subsequent fiscal year.(2)
A local educational agency that has completed planning and is in the implementation phase shall be required to meet the following requirements annually commencing with its first year of implementation:(A)
Ensure that each funded schoolsite has convened a shared decisionmaking team or council that includes pupils, families, community partners, and educators.(B)
Support each schoolsite’s shared decisionmaking team or council in developing a schoolsite community school implementation plan that the shared decisionmaking team or council annually presents to its schoolsite.(C)
Provide the department with an implementation plan that was submitted to the governing board or body of the local educational agency. The implementation plan shall include all of the following details:(i)
The prior year’s program and expenditure data and pupil outcomes if applicable.(ii)
A description of how the local educational agency’s approach to community schools aligns with the Community School framework.(iv)
A description of how the local educational agency’s approach expands services to pupils and leverages and braids funds from existing state initiatives, including, but not limited to, the Expanded Learning Opportunities Program, the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative Fee Schedule program, universal school meals program, California State Preschool Program, and universal transitional kindergarten.(v)
A description of how the local educational agency’s approach assesses technical assistance needs and identifies a plan to address those needs, which may include a local community of practice and connecting to state-led technical assistance opportunities and resources; and a plan for the school year.(vi)
Each eligible schoolsite’s community schools implementation plan.(D)
Annually report and publicly present its community schools implementation plan at a meeting of the governing board or body of the local educational agency. The local educational agency shall publicly post its community schools implementation plan on the local educational agency’s and the schoolsites’ internet websites.(E)
A local educational agency with an Expanded Learning Opportunities Program allocation or an After School Education and Safety Program grant may submit those programs’ respective implementation plans as part of its community school implementation plan.(F)
(i)Submit an annual progress report that includes an attestation that their community schoolsites are providing wraparound supports to pupils and is implementing community schools in accordance with the California Community Schools Framework as adopted by the state board. The technical assistance structure shall utilize the annual progress report to provide support to local educational agencies and schoolsites on implementation and continuous improvement of their community schools models.(ii)
The annual progress report requirements, including the attestation of the community school’s commitment to the framework, shall be developed by the state transformational assistance center in collaboration with the department and education interestholders. The annual progress report shall be aligned and consistent with the Community Schools framework and the annual progress report required for recipients of the one-time implementation grants pursuant to Section 8902 to the extent feasible. A local educational agency that received one-time implementation grants may submit the existing annual progress report to fulfill the requirement for the duration of its grant period pursuant to Section 8902.(3)
As a condition of receiving funding pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (c), a local educational agency shall commit to providing program and expenditure data to the department, as specified by the department, and participating in program evaluation and improvement efforts.(4)
(A)It is the intent of the Legislature that, beginning in the 2031–32 fiscal year, a local educational agency’s schoolsites will be required to participate in a seven-year certification process conducted by an external certification entity and managed through the state transformational assistance center to ensure quality community school models are implemented with fidelity. Only schoolsites that are certified through this process shall be eligible to receive ongoing community schools funding under paragraph (1) of subdivision (c).(B)
A local educational agency’s apportionment generated for a schoolsite that loses its certification may be deemed ineligible to continue receiving an apportionment for that schoolsite, subject to the determination of the department. If a schoolsite loses its certification, the local educational agency may continue receiving a community schools apportionment for that schoolsite until the schoolsite’s current certification period expires. A local educational agency shall not receive renewed funding for an uncertified schoolsite until the schoolsite meets certification standards again.(C)
A local educational agency that is interested in establishing a new community school at, or renewing funding for, an eligible schoolsite shall have an opportunity to submit a request to be considered for funding during regular intervals. The details for the requests, including deadlines and timing of the intervals and approval, shall be determined by the department in collaboration with the transformational assistance centers and education interestholders.(f)
A local educational agency may retain up to 10 percent of the total funds awarded pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (c) for its eligible schoolsites each fiscal year. These funds shall be used to administer community schools established at eligible schoolsites, manage professional learning and networking, and coordinate services and funding streams for community schools under the local educational agency with eligible schoolsites. Funds retained by the local educational agency to provide direct services to pupils may be retained separately from this administrative set-aside.(g)
A local educational agency receiving funding under paragraph (1) of subdivision (c) shall commit to communicating and collaborating with the transformational assistance centers, as often as the transformational assistance centers may reasonably require, to discuss the implementation of community schoolsites, potential challenges facing the local educational agency during implementation, and best practices that can be shared with peer community schoolsites.(h)
A local educational agency that receives funds under paragraph (1) of subdivision (c) for an eligible schoolsite that has closed, as reported pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (f) of Section 60900, shall return any unspent funds received for that closed schoolsite to the department. The local educational agency shall report the total amount of unspent funds in accordance with instructions and forms prescribed and furnished by the department. Any returned funds that are not reallocated shall revert to the General Fund.(i)
If funds appropriated for the purpose of this section remain after all apportionments pursuant to subdivisions (b) and (c) have been made, the balance that exceeds that amount shall revert to the General Fund by June 30 of each year.(j)
For purposes of making the computations required by Section 8 of Article XVI of the California Constitution, the appropriations made by subdivision (b) shall be deemed to be “General Fund revenues appropriated for school districts,” as defined in subdivision (c) of Section 41202, for the fiscal year for which the appropriation is made, and included within the “total allocations to school districts and community college districts from General Fund proceeds of taxes appropriated pursuant to Article XIIIB,” as defined in subdivision (e) of Section 41202, for the fiscal year for which the appropriation is made.
Source:
Section 8903, https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=EDC§ionNum=8903. (updated Jul. 9, 2026; accessed Jul. 20, 2026).
