SALINAS >> The Salinas Union High School District is gearing up for a revamp of how its schools operate after receiving a $15.4 million grant to complete the district’s goal of turning all of its sites into “community schools” that focus on family and community engagement.

Districts in Monterey County have been applying to the California Community Schools Partnership Program for years in the hopes of receiving funding to transform their sites into community schools, focusing on engaging the family unit in order to improve student outcomes. Last year, Salinas Union received a $6.6 million grant from the partnership program to turn three of its sites into community schools.

“With this funding, we’re not just changing programs — we’re transforming the way we think about school,” said Superintendent Zandra Jo Galván in a news release. “Together with our families, staff and community partners, we are creating schools where every student feels seen, supported and inspired to reach their full potential.”

The grant is part of a five-year investment to introduce the holistic approach to the remaining 10 schools in the district. El Sausal Middle School, North Salinas High School and Everett Alvarez High School were the three sites initially chosen to participate in the community schools model and have since seen increased student services.

Last year, Alisal Unified and Monterey Peninsula Unified School Districts received $17.1 million and $8.7 million respectively to upgrade their services in accordance with the community schools model.

The California legislature passed the California Community Schools Partnership Act in 2021, aiming to make it easier for districts who qualify to follow the model and utilize community resources and improve support services for students and families. The legislature then expanded the program in 2022 by adding funds and extending the program to 2031.

To qualify for program funds, local educational agencies (school districts, charter schools or county offices of education) must meet any of the following criteria:

50% or more of enrolled students at the LEA are unduplicated, meaning a student is only counted once even if they fall into multiple categories that are eligible for supplemental funding. For example, if a student is an English Learner as well as a foster youth, that student must only be factored once when considering the amount of supplemental funding the agency receives.

The LEA has dropout rates higher than the state average.

The LEA has suspension and expulsion rates higher than the state average.

The LEA’s rates of child homelessness, foster youth or justice-involved youth (students who have come into contact with the juvenile justice system) is higher than the state average.

Data from the California Department of Education shows that for the 2024-25 school year, Monterey County had the highest percentage of homeless students in the state, with 16% of youth not having stable living conditions.

“This significant investment arrives at a time when the Salinas Valley continues to navigate challenges related to housing insecurity, mental health and pandemic recovery,” said the news release. “Despite these hurdles, (the district) remains steadfast in its mission to empower every student to succeed. The Community Schools transformation represents a long-term commitment to building safe, inclusive and opportunity-rich campuses for all.”

The district’s community school implementation includes integrated student support, family and community engagement, collaborative leadership and practices and expanded and enriched learning time and opportunities.