Community School Partnerships

New! Healthy Start Video Clip

Retiring Principal – Alan Withers
“Reflections On Healthy Start Hallmarks”

Mather Heights Elementary School
Folsom Cordova Unified School District

The Educational Testing Service Policy Information Report "Parsing the Achievement Gap II"

"Syntheses of many research studies establish that 16 factors related to life experiences and conditions are correlated with cognitive development and academic achievement. This report asks whether there are differences in these 16 ‘correlates of achievement' among different population groups that mirror the large and persistent gaps that are found in school achievement. The answer is yes, there are differences in these correlates of achievement among racial/ethnic and income groups, and those differences do mirror the achievement gaps."

The authors conclude: "The unavoidable conclusion is that if we are to close the gaps in achievement, we must first close the gaps in these life experiences and conditions."

This conclusion raises the issue: Does closing the achievement gap require first closing the gaps in the community and family, as well as school life experiences and conditions?

While the gist of the report certainly underscores the reality that schools alone can't close the achievement gap, there are many knowledgeable people who argue that schools can't wait for the society to address the ills of poverty and the underfunding of public services. And from our perspective, the report strengthens the case for enhancing how schools and communities weave together resources to develop a comprehensive and cohesive system of learning supports as a high priority component in addressing many of the factors interfering with students benefitting from instructional improvements.

Online at http://www.ets.org/Media/Research/pdf/PICPARSINGII.pdf

A Discussion with Secretary of Education Arne Duncan

On May 11, the Brown Center on Education Policy at Brookings hosted Secretary of Education Arne Duncan for a conversation on the billions of dollars of economic stimulus aid being delivered to states and school districts under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. He discussed how the stimulus funds can advance the president’s goals for education reform.

Click here to read more

Special! Full-Service Community School Clearinghouse Resources

Newly Revised Getting Ready for Kindergarten Guide 2009- 2010

Catalog #: 0306 English
Catalog#: 0305 Spanish
Price: $6.00 Each (Bulk Rate Pricing Available)

The newly revised editions now include California oral health assessment guidelines and waiver information.
Education Code Section 49452.8, now requires that your child have an oral health assessment (dental check-up) by May 31 in either kindergarten or first grade, whichever is his or her first year in public school. Assessments that have happened within the 12 months before your child enters school also meet this requirement. The law specifies that the assessment must be done by a licensed dentist or other licensed or registered dental health professional.

Getting Ready for Kindergarten gives practical tips and background about a child's transition into public schools. It can be adapted to meet specific school, district, or county needs. In California, kindergarten remains the universal gateway into public education. How well a family understands the school system can make the transition successful or not. This guide is a useful tool that can help parents and their children take those decisive first steps into public schools.

This guide will help prepare children and parents for starting kindergarten. It's never easy to do new things, but parents can support their children by being informed, helping them to feel secure, and by letting them know what is expected.

More importantly this guide will help parents by providing the information they need to answer their very important questions.

Such as:

• Will my child be ready to handle a new school?
• Will the teacher be able to help my child?
• Will the school be safe?
• Where will my child go to school?
• How do I get my child enrolled?
• What will my child learn in kindergarten?
• Will my child meet new friends?
• How can I help my child get ready for first day?
• What can I do at home to help my child succeed in school?
• How can I find a good preschool? Child care? After School programs?
• What are a parent's rights to be involved?
• Why should I get involved?
• What if my child has a learning disability or other special need?
• What resources are available in the community to help me?

Item #0306 - English; Item #0305 - Spanish
$6.00 individual copies. 
Bulk pricing: $3.50 per copy (minimum order of 50).
(Credit cards and purchase orders accepted.)

To order the Kindergarten Guide and browse other helpful resources please visit our Clearinghouse web site: http://hsfo.ucdavis.edu/clearinghouse/catalog/

Also available on the web site is a FREE 11-page sample of the Kindergarten Guide
in both English and Spanish.

Contact Lenora Bruce For Additional Information- Phone: 530-754-0399 EMAIL: labruce@ucdavis.edu

Community School Partnerships Toolkit

Order Your Toolkit Now!

Catalog #: 0406
Price: $50.00

This toolkit presents tools to guide any school that wants to improve student achievement, youth wellbeing and ties to families and communities. It gives step-bystep instructions to create strong community school partnerships.

The Center for Community School Partnerships has worked with over 850 Healthy Start grantees since 1992. This toolkit pulls from the best of the training materials and resources we have used for sixteen years in supporting community school collaboratives. These tools work.

Parent Leadership (Module) A Facilitator’s Guide to Improving Family Involvement in School

Catalog #: 1003
Price: $50.00

This module is intended to provide a framework for strengthening parent involvement in school-community partnerships. The module’s guidebook promotes an on-going process of support and leadership skill-building that draws upon life stories as a strategy to unleash parent’s potential as leaders. The module includes a guidebook, a resource packet, and a CD developed for facilitators and instructors who provide parent leadership training. The module targets primarily Latino communities, but may be used to enhance leadership skills for all parents.

More info: http://hsfo.ucdavis.edu/clearinghouse/catalog/item.lasso?-Token.catnum=1003

Destination Sustainability (Module)

Catalog #: 1004X
Price: $40.00

This is the same module as Catalog item #1004, however it is presented in a more electronic format. The guidebook and funding chart are in print. The tools, slide show, resources and other materials are presented on CD. This booklet, along with it’s slide presentation and charts, resources and tools, is intended as your vehicle to permanent funding for the learning support services initiated by your collaborative group. It was designed to help local and regional collaborative partners deal with sustainability issues and other collaborative issues. It can be used in any integrating initiative. Use it more like a roadmap than a textbook to guide you from where you are now to your destination of sustainability.

More info: http://hsfo.ucdavis.edu/clearinghouse/catalog/item.lasso?-Token.catnum=1004X

Youth Development Guide: Engaging Young People in After-School Programming

Catalog #: 3002
Price: $55.00

The Youth Development Guide, developed by the Community Network for Youth Development breaks new ground in converting a Youth Development approach from a set of compelling ideas into practical action. The Guide is an school time. easy-to-use tool for creating challenging and engaging learning environments during out of It provides specific and practical advice on strengthening individual staff practices and organizational policies in after school programs to support learning and young people’s healthy development. Each chapter of the Guide offers descriptions of core youth development practices - what it looks and sounds like, provides hands on applications to encourage and deepen practice, and offers exercises and tools to use with staff members on site.

More info: http://hsfo.ucdavis.edu/clearinghouse/catalog/item.lasso?-Token.catnum=3002

Coming Soon to the Clearinghouse!

“The Best of Both Worlds”
Aligning Afterschool Programs with Youth Development Principles and Academic Standards
Produced by the Sunset Neighborhood Beacon Center

To reserve your copy please contact: Lenora Bruce- Phone: 530-754-0399 EMAIL: labruce@ucdavis.edu