WEST SACRAMENTO, CA (MPG) - Washington Unified School District in West Sacramento has received a second grant through the California Community Schools Partnership Program, a $4,275,000 five-year grant to continue implementation of its community schools work and expand from River Bank Elementary School to Elkhorn Village Elementary School and Westfield Village Elementary School. The district is continuing its partnership with United Way California Capital Region to implement the neighborhood hubs that will provide access to services that support children, strengthen families and improve community health. 

The grant will be paired with the federal Office of Elementary and Secondary Education’s Full-Services Community Schools five-year grant of $2.5 million that United Way California Capital Region was awarded in 2022 for the project. 

“Receiving this second grant is a testament to the dedication and success of our community schools initiative,” said Dr. Cheryl P. Hildreth, Superintendent of Washington Unified School District. “We are grateful for the continued support from the California Community Schools Partnership Program, as this funding allows us to expand our efforts and reach more students and families in West Sacramento.”

Through case managers and site coordinators, the community schools will provide services tailored to each school’s needs based on feedback from the community. Services may include access to health care, mentoring, expanded learning programs, adult guidance, a wellness center providing direct support and trauma-informed care to students, or a restorative justice and equity coordinator to reduce punitive actions and promote trust, respect and sense of safety between the school, students and families.

The project has a preliminary goal to increase student and family participation in services by at least 20% each year. Other objectives include increasing the number of students prepared for kindergarten, student academic achievement, and extent to which students feel safe, healthy and supported by engaged parents.

The district has been working with the local United Way to convene and connect community partners with the community schools to provide new resources, basic necessities, expanded and adult learning opportunities, and mental and physical health supports to students and families at the school sites. United Way is providing management and oversight for the project including conducting the initial community needs assessment. United Way will closely support the district over the five-year project period.

“We are elated that our West Sacramento community schools are receiving both attention and funding at the state and federal levels,” said Dr. Dawnté Early, president and CEO, United Way California Capital Region. “United Way is honored to bring our well-established resources and convening tools to the table for this important and forward-thinking project that will make such a significant difference in the lives of West Sacramento families.”

Washington Unified School District is the premier provider of high-quality education in West Sacramento, serving nearly 7,500 students across seven K-8 schools and three high schools. The district offers cutting-edge opportunities featuring free college savings accounts for kindergarteners, Spanish dual language immersion, visual and performing arts, career technical education, AVID, MESA, before and after school care, and more. For more information: www.wusd.k12.ca.us.

For 100 years, United Way California Capital Region has been working to end poverty by creating stronger, healthier, more compassionate communities. Since 1923, the local United Way has raised more than $500 million to fight poverty in the region and help families succeed. The group recently announced a goal to raise $3 million to help 10,000 kids excel in school by 2025 as part of its work to end poverty for local families. The local United Way has found one place in each community to reach the most families in need: School is square one for ending poverty. United Way uses its Square One approach to end poverty for local families by helping children excel in school, investing in families, and strengthening schools with resources to address increased poverty and deep roots of racial inequality. For more information or to make a donation: www.YourLocalUnitedWay.org.