Communities and Schools for Career Success [CS²] was established in October of 1999 by the California Department of Education to replicate in California the successful Massachusetts school improvement model. CS² reshapes the relationships between schools and their communities, improves academic achievement and connects student learning more directly to the world of work and the broader community. CS² involves the entire community in developing and carrying out plans to help students progress successfully from middle school through high school as well as to make informed choices about post-secondary options.

THE CS² APPROACH

• Focuses on a systemic approach to change by promoting balance between Academic Rigor, Career Preparation, Youth Development and Supportive and System Building activities.
• Strengthens the education system so that all children and youth can be academically, socially and emotionally successful.
• Builds broad-based community partnerships that strengthen the way a community supports families and children. Local leaders guide CS² work and set the agenda for local activities and strategies.
• Deploys a team of "school-community entrepreneurs" who work as change-agents on behalf of the schools and community organizations.
• Utilizes a state-level capacity building organization (in California, New Ways to Work) to provide on-site coaches, leadership, access to resources, technical assistance, training, networking opportunities and strategic planning support. New Ways also collects and disseminates best practices.
• Is an investment strategy that leverages resources from the California Department of Education, California Workforce Investment Board, foundations and local communities.
• Measures impact and maintains accountability with support from a third-party evaluator who helps refine the CS² accountability system, measures progress and improves how schools and community partners use data to make good decisions for children and youth.
• Is in full operation in four California communities. Petaluma, Sacramento and Yolo County since Spring 2000. San Diego joined the network during the summer of 2002.

CS² ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND IMPACTS

• Entrepreneurs are leveraging dollars. Over 11 million dollars in private and public funding to support local activities and initiatives have been raised by entrepreneur teams and partners.
• CS² communities are adding and enhancing services that are beginning to demonstrate measurable results.
• CS² has engaged over 21,500 students, hundreds of educators, parents, community members and dozens of schools and organizations in career development activities.
• CS² entrepreneurs are increasing the number of partners working with schools. 80% of community partners say that CS² has helped to bring community voice and ideas to schools. 77% feel that schools are operating differently as a result of CS². 76% say they can quantify or qualify positive impact on student achievement as a result.
• The evaluation system used by CS² and conducted by Brandeis University and Public Works, Inc. is tracking student outcomes and school impacts such as the API, graduation rates and the coming High School Exit Exam. Early results indicate that CS² is having a positive impact on schools, communities and students.

"The Entrepreneur model broke the mold. It is unique and a practical infrastructure that promotes leadership and initiative and is able to sustain collaboration."

"New Ways is necessary to maintain the statewide infrastructure that exists. New Ways has become even more valuable because they have become their own infrastructure for collaboration and planning. It provides excellent support for facilitating and strengthening local discussions..."

"New Ways has built capacity in terms of: organization, documentation, planning goals, staying focused, following through with plans, team building and skill building."

"New Ways provides a valuable support system for Entrepreneurs because it helps them step back and be cognizant of what they are doing, provide resources and helps local people think and plan together."

Source: O'Driscoll and Rahn, January 2003

Click Here to download the CS² Factsheet as a PDF file.

Click Here to download the CS² Brochure as a PDF file.

For more information please contact www.commcorp.org