GGUSD Receives Additional $2.4 Million for Community Schools Expansion

• Friday, August 29, 2025

In 2022, the California State Board of Education launched the $3 billion California Community Schools Partnership Program designed to fund school improvement initiatives that support the whole child. Through a competitive grant process, Garden Grove Unified School District was awarded $11.8 million for an initial cohort of 8 community schools and last year, the district received $18 million to expand the program to 13 more schools. This week, the district was informed that the state awarded it an additional $2.4 million for the second cohort which now includes La Quinta High School. 

With this addition, GGUSD now boasts 22 Community Schools—more than any other district in Orange County—and has secured a total of $32.3 million in state funding to support the initiative. Community Schools provide integrated supports and resources that help ensure every student has the opportunity to succeed.

“This grant funding allows us to build on the strong foundation we’ve established through years of family engagement and strategic planning,” said Board of Education Vice President Bob Harden. “We’re proud to deepen our collaborative efforts—bringing together students, families, staff, and community partners to implement targeted strategies that reflect the unique needs of each school. The Community Schools model is a powerful tool that drives student-centered transformation and results in stronger school communities.”

GGUSD allocates part of the funding toward a Community Schools Teacher Coach for each site who leads the development, coordination and implementation of the community school strategy at the site level with ongoing professional development and district support.

GGUSD’s first cohort of Community Schools was funded by an $11.8 million implementation grant and include Eisenhower Elementary School, Heritage Computer Science Academy, Newhope Elementary School, Russell Elementary Language Academy, Doig Intermediate School, Fitz Intermediate Language Academy, and Los Amigos and Santiago high schools. The second cohort, funded by an $18 million implementation grant, includes Bryant, Clinton, Faylane, Murdy, Rosita, Stanley, and Violette elementary schools; Alamitos, Lake, Ralston and Walton intermediate schools; and Hare and Rancho Alamitos high schools. The final allocation of $2.4 million for La Quinta High School was approved by the California Department of Education last month.

“GGUSD has long embraced the power of strong community connections to support student success,” said Board of Education Trustee Teri Rocco. “We’re excited to leverage this new grant funding to expand our Community Schools, which are vital centers of support, care, and opportunity for our families.”

GGUSD’s Community Schools are already seeing positive change implemented through a tailored plan developed with input from focus groups, surveys, and meetings. These plans focus on three key areas: academic and social-emotional supports, on-campus health and wellness services, and comprehensive family and community resource navigation.

The work of Community Schools is a natural extension of GGUSD’s core mission: to ensure all students develop the academic and personal skills for lifelong success.

 

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