By Blake Jones, Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images, Politico, June 11, 2022
After successfully pushing for a multibillion-dollar program to infuse high-poverty schools with an array of services, United Ways of California is urging state lawmakers to tap the breaks on its expansion, pointing to “issues that have plagued this program since day one.”
In a surprising twist, the same group that lobbied for the model just last year is now pleading with budget staffers in the Legislature to slow the rollout of the “community schools” approach, United Ways Public Policy Manager Jose Vargas told POLITICO Friday. United Ways also wants the Legislature to include an added $1.5 billion for program, but for the money to be allocated on a delayed timeline.
The model is geared at helping schools and community groups offer additional services, such as counseling, to low-income students and their families. Last year, the state Legislature passed a law establishing a framework to distribute $3 billion in community school grants over seven years, and over 260 districts, charter schools and county offices of education have already been awarded the money.
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