A new $35.5 million investment in community schools will help expand a growing network of campuses across Orange County where students and families can access academic, mental health and community resources alongside their education.
The funding, included in the new state budget, gives Orange County education leaders an opportunity to build on the community schools work already underway in districts like the Anaheim Union High School District and extend the model to more students throughout the region. Approximately $215 million in community schools funding has already been awarded to 147 schools across 14 school districts and OCDE’s alternative education programs, reaching an estimated 85,000 students throughout the county.
The Orange County Register reported that district leadership, community members and students gathered Aug. 4 at Anaheim High School’s Cook Auditorium to celebrate the statewide investment.
Community schools are designed to bring schools and community partners together to address the needs of students and families by connecting academic success to students’ overall wellbeing. Depending on local needs, that can mean connecting families with mental health services, family resource centers, after-school programs, tutoring, health resources and other supports.
Anaheim High School junior Coraline Salazar said her school’s community resource center has become a place where students and families feel welcomed, supported and connected.
“It’s a commitment to making sure students, families, educators and community partners have a voice in shaping our school,” Salazar told the Register. “It showed me what happens when a school invests not only in academics, but in people and relationships.”
The new funding could help bring similar opportunities to students across Orange County. As Orange County continues expanding its community schools network, the investment could help more districts build on the lessons learned by districts like Anaheim Union.
“For our families, it ensures our schools remain vibrant hubs within our community,” Anaheim Union Superintendent Jaron Fried said, “places where parents, families and caregivers are true partners in education and can access vital services directly in their neighborhood.”
Here are the other stories we’ve been following this week:
- CBS News LA recently featured Betsy Ross Elementary School in the Anaheim Elementary School District as principal Deidra Stewart and staff welcomed students back for the first day of school to prepare them for a successful year.
- Schools across Orange County are getting ready to bring students back into the classroom for the 2026-27 school year with some local schools already back in session and others preparing to begin in the coming weeks.
- The OC Pathways Student Leadership Summit gave Orange County students opportunities to develop leadership skills and explore career education as they prepare to begin their student ambassador roles this upcoming school year. The program brings students together through networking, work-based learning and projects designed to address community needs.
- California lawmakers are returning to Sacramento with several education-related bills still under consideration including proposals addressing teacher credentialing, school staffing and other issues affecting classrooms.
- OCDE Chief Technology Officer Carl Fong was highlighted in Inside Technology magazine for his work using technology to strengthen schools and support education across Orange County.
- Hip-hop icon Bobbito Garcia encouraged students at Orange County Juvenile Hall to pursue their passions during an OCDE-led Zoom webinar focused on challenging students to recognize their potential and find positive outlets for their talents.
- In the latest FutureCurrent episode, Orange County Probation Chief Jessica Johnson discusses the department’s work to support young people through rehabilitation and help them build pathways toward positive futures. The conversation explores the importance of mentorship, accountability and opportunities for youth involved in the justice system.
- A decades-old reading program at Moffett Elementary School in the Huntington Beach City School District is helping students build stronger reading habits by combining reading incentives and community support to encourage students to keep turning the page.
- California community colleges are preparing for the launch of Workforce Pell Grants which will allow eligible students to use federal Pell Grant funding for shorter-term workforce training programs.
- A new private middle school in South Orange County is offering families an alternative approach designed in part for young athletes and families seeking more time to develop competitive sports skills before moving on to high school.
- California families are preparing to spend billions on back-to-school supplies and clothing while nationwide back-to-school spending is expected to reach about $43 billion this season as families navigate the rising cost of school essentials.
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