Community Schools Program
Have you heard of the Community Schools or Court School program? These students need our support:
Community Schools is an alternative education program for students who are expelled from the school or are on probation. The Community Schools may also serve homeless students and students referred by their local school district with parent consent.
There are four Community School locations in San Mateo County: North – SSF Boys and Girls Club; Gateway – Tower Road in San Mateo serving middle through high school; Central – Redwood City Boys and Girls Club; South – EPA Boys and Girls Club.
Each school has a teacher, an aide, a group supervisor from the County Probation Dept. and Special Education services. There are about 20-30 students per class. The program utilizes best practices for alternative education that promote positive stunt engagement and investment in their education in a culture of caring and respect. Strong relationships and rapport with staff and peers leads to changes in student attitudes. Most of the students attend for 1-2 semesters and then return to their districts.
How many of the 441 students who attended the Community Schools program in 2011-2012 were from your school district?
- Jefferson High School District – 21
- Menlo Park – 1
- Millbrae – 1
- Ravenswood – 9
- Redwood City Elementary – 9
- San Bruno Park – 1
- San Mateo-Foster City – 4
- San Mateo Union High School District – 188
- Sequoia Union High School District – 192
- SSF Unified – 12
17th District PTA officers have spent time touring and getting to know more about Community Schools and Court Schools. Hillcrest Court School at the San Mateo Youth Services Center is a lock down residential facility for students who are either waiting for a court hearing or have been placed there by the court as a result of their hearing.
About 1300 children go through Hillcrest in a year, and up to 120 can be there at any one time. Those who are at Camp Glenwood have drug or alcohol abuse problems and those at Canyon Oaks have therapeutic needs.
WHAT DO THESE SCHOOLS NEED?
It has been requested that the 17th District PTAs/PTSAs provide funding for sets of novel for their English classes and paperback books for the libraries. They specifically would like:
- Sets of the novel Left for Dead: A Young Man’s Search for Justice to the USS Indianapolis
- Art Instruction
- Restorative Justice Training
HOW YOU AND YOUR PTA CAN HELP THESE STUDENTS
These students do not have a PTA/PTSA to support them. Your or your PTA can help support these students in two ways:
- Make a financial donation via your PTA Council or 17th District PTA remittance form. The 17th District PTA has set a goal of $3000 to assist the Community Schools/Court Schools children.
- Donate to the Follett-Titlewish online book fair where teachers can order these novels with your online donations.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful to be able to help provide books for these students? If you have any questions, you can contact Lori McBride, Community Schools liaison at communityschools@17thdistrictpta.org.
To see more about Community Schools programs, please view our page on Community Schools’ activities.
CALIFORNIA PTA ENDORSES BALLOT INITIATIVE
Today in Sacramento, The Our Children, Our Future: Local Schools and Early Education Investment Act was submitted to the Attorney General for title and summary for the November 6, 2012 ballot.
California State PTA supports this bold initiative, which will provide approximately $1,300 per student in new funds each year that must be spent directly at school sites with local parent and educator input.
In particular, the funding must be used by schools to provide a well-rounded education that supports college and career readiness for every student, including a high-quality curriculum that includes the arts; music; physical education; science, technology, engineering and math (STEM); and vocational and technical education courses. It can also be used for smaller class sizes, school libraries and librarians, school nurses and counselors.
California State PTA had a role in crafting the final ballot measure language, and we plan to actively engage in the broad, grass-roots effort to qualify and pass this measure.
In the coming weeks we will continue providing information about this important initiative and how you can get involved to help.
More information, including the full text of the initiative, can be found at:www.OurChildrenOurFuture2012.com.
