Citizen Schools Expands in the Bay Area!

Citizen Schools California is proud to announce our successful expansion to two new partner sites: Joseph George Middle School, in Alum Rock District of San Jose,  and Ronald McNair Middle School in Ravenswood School District in East Palo Alto. All seven of our campuses across the Bay Area successfully launched in early September and both of our new campuses are embracing a smooth transition to Expanded Learning Time (ELT).

In our ELT model, Citizen Schools extends the learning day by three hours and brings a diverse group of caring and committed professionals into the classroom to provide hands on and relevant learning opportunities to students.

Launching program at new sites is no simple task. Here’s an inside look at what the first few days at our new campuses have been like.

At both Joseph George Middle School and Ronald McNair Middle School, Citizen Schools was impressed and thrilled to have 100% attendance on the first day of program. This level of investment could not have have happened without the support of teachers and school administration, many of whom stayed after hours to ensure our AmeriCorps Teaching Fellows were prepared for their first classes.

Of course, parents are also key to our success. Our campus staff and school  partners work closely with them to ensure an easy transition to a longer ELT school day. Campus Directors and Teaching Fellows have been working hard to address  parents’ questions about ELT, and their efforts are paying off. Already we've heard  positive feedback from parents who are excited  that their students are receiving  academic support and opportunities for project based learning.

The support and enthusiasm of the Joseph George Middle School and Ronald McNair Middle School communities as well as the leadership of our campus staff leave us feeling confident that our successes will only continue in the months ahead.  With students, parents, and teachers on board, and with volunteers ready to begin their apprenticeships, the Citizen Schools ship has set sail! We couldn't be happier that school has started again and look forward to seeing YOU in the classroom soon!