Inside LACOE’s Countywide Support for Community Schools

Inside LACOE's Countywide Support for Community Schools

Fri Sep 04 09:15:00 PDT 2026

A new report details how the Greater Los Angeles Regional Transformational Assistance Center (R-TAC) helps L.A. County community schools transform into hubs of support, inclusion, equity and thriving.

Led by LACOE's Community Schools Initiative, the Greater Los Angeles Regional Transformational Assistance Center continues to play a critical role in supporting schools across the County to become hubs of inclusion, equity and whole-child support through the California Community Schools Partnership Program (CCSPP).

As the Greater Los Angeles R-TAC enters its fifth operational year, its second annual Impact Report reflects on progress and outcomes from the 2024-25 academic year. The report highlights how the support provided for CCSPP implementation is empowering local educational agencies (LEAs) and school sites to build transformative and sustainable community school systems.

Designated by the California Department of Education as one of eight technical assistance centers in California, the Greater Los Angeles R-TAC currently supports a network of 500 CCSPP grantees across L.A. County, representing 23% of all community schools statewide receiving CCSPP funding.

In partnership with the UCLA Center for the Transformation of Schools and The Los Angeles Trust for Children's Health, the Greater Los Angeles R-TAC offers collective and individualized year-long support to schools and districts across eight subregions, led by LACOE CSI leaders who serve as designated R-TAC Coordinators. These efforts focus on building the capacity of LEAs and school sites through learning opportunities designed to strengthen implementation, promote equity and deepen understanding of the CCSPP. This support includes professional learning sessions, webinars, one-on-one guidance, school site visits and facilitated convenings. Together, these opportunities empower educators, district leaders and community partners to collaborate, reflect and strengthen their community schools' work.

Drawing from annual progress reports, student data, surveys and other metrics, the report highlights several key insights from the 2024-25 school year:

• Countywide Technical Assistance and Support: The Greater Los Angeles R-TAC held 77 group learning opportunities and engaged more than 3,500 participants. This underscores the strong demand for support in implementing the CCSPP across the County. Participants reported feeling more prepared and confident in supporting students, staff and families after connecting with the Greater Los Angeles R-TAC.
  
  
• Improved Attendance, Dropout and Graduation Rates: There was a modest decline in chronic absenteeism and dropout rates among CCSPP grantees, while graduation rates increased modestly. Although challenges remain, these early trends suggest that community schools across the County are re-engaging students and rebuilding consistent attendance.
  
  
• Expansion of Health and Wellness Partnerships: With support from the Greater Los Angeles R-TAC, many schools began to create partnerships with local community organizations to provide essential services, such as mental health support, nutrition programs and health screenings on campus.
  
  
• Impact of Regional Support: The Greater Los Angeles R-TAC's transformation zone initiative illustrates the value of concentrated regional support in accelerating implementation by creating spaces for peer learning, experimentation and collaboration. Additionally, schools that began implementing the community school model earlier demonstrated the most significant progress, underscoring the importance of long-term support.
  
  
• Sustaining the Community Schools Model: Across L.A. County, community schools are enhancing their capacity, expanding family partnerships and building sustainable systems that support the whole child.

The latest report helps LACOE and its partners understand what is effective and where further support is necessary. As we begin the 2026-27 academic year and look forward to the potential expansion of community schools across the County, the team will review 2025-26 data and leverage the findings from this report to continue strengthening its support for community schools.

To learn more, read the complete 2024-25 Greater Los Angeles R-TAC Impact Report, or visit lacoe.edu/rtac for information on available support and upcoming learning opportunities for community schools.