The California Middle Grades Alliance is a partnership of organizations that focuses on improving student achievement. It includes the following organizations:
Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) (Outside Source) AVID is a middle through high school program to prepare students in the middle achievement level with potential to succeed in rigorous secondary curriculum and achieve four year college eligibility. Contact: Julie Elliott jelliot@avidcenter.org, Phone: 858-623-2843 ext. 131, Fax: 858-623-2822.
Association of California School Administrators (ACSA) (Outside Source) For the past 30 years, the ACSA–Middle Grades Council–has provided opportunities, services and benefits to educators that help ensure their success as educational leaders. Contact: Bob Lee, rkee@musd.net, Phone: 209-825-3200 Ext. 741, Fax: 209-825-3225; Mary Gomes mgomes@acsa.org, Phone:916-444-3216.
California Department of Education-Middle and High School Improvement Office (MHSIO) MHSIO provides information and resources for middle grades stakeholders: administrators, educators and parents. The middle grades consist of early adolescent students, ten to fourteen years of age, generally in grades six to eight. Contact: MidNet@cde.ca.gov, Phone: 916-322-1892, Fax: 916-322-3390.
California League of Middle Schools (CLMS) (Outside Source) Members of CLMS are administrators, teachers, parents, professors, policymakers, and others interested in the achievement of middle level students. Contact: Peter Murphy p_murphy@clms.net, Phone: 800-326-1880, Fax: 562-430-5607.
California Middle Grades Partnership Network (CMGPN) Network participation is open to all middle schools and to elementary schools serving grades 6-8 population. Benefits of participation in the CMGPN include being kept up-to-date on CDE activities and initiatives, state and federal mandates and pending legislation, current middle level research, special state or federal projects, grants or special funding opportunities. Contact: Mike Melton mmelton@rocklin.k12.ca.us, Phone: 916-315-9009 ext. 3801; Dean Wharton dwharton@rosemead.k12.ca.us, Phone: 626-289-1139, Fax: 626-292-1741.
California School Boards Association (CSBA) (Outside Source) CSBA is a member-driven association that supports the governance team—school board members, superintendents and senior administrative staff—in its complex leadership role. It develops, communicates and advocates the perspective of California school districts and county offices of education. Contact: Sharon Stys sharon@calcoil.com, Phone: 310-787-7875, Fax: 562-945-3324.
California Schools to Watch – Taking Center Stage (STW-TCS) The California Middle Grades Alliance partners include the California Department of Education, the California League of Middle Schools (STW-TCS - lead organization), the Association of California School Administrators - Middle Grades Council, the California Middle Grades Partnership Network, the California School Boards Association, and the Middle and High School Subcommittee of the Curriculum and Instruction Steering Committee of the California County Superintendents Educational Services Association.
Each year, STW-TCS selects a few high-performing middle school models that demonstrate academic excellence, developmental responsiveness (responsive to the needs and interests of young adolescents), social equity, and organizational support. Contact: Irvin Howard, Director ihoward@csusb.edu, Phone: 909-748-0479, Fax: 909-748-0489.
California Teachers Association (CTA) (Outside Source) CTA is California's largest professional employee organization, representing more than 340,000 public school teachers, counselors, psychologists, librarians and other non-supervisory, certificated personnel. CTA is affiliated with the 2.8 million-member National Education Association (NEA). Contact: Jim Rodgers jmrcta@adelphia.net, Phone: 456-690-2344, Cell: 714-812-4179; Sergio Quintor squintor@cta.org, Phone: 650-552-5280, Fax: 540-552-5016.
Curriculum and Instruction Steering Committee (CISC) (Outside Source) CISC is a secondary subcommittee to the California County Superintendents Educational Association (CCSESA). Contact: Rob Phillips rphillips@solanocoe.k12.ca.us, Phone: 707-399-4451, Fax: 707-863-4174; Cricket Kidwell cfkidwell@tcoek12.org, Phone: 530-623-2861, Fax: 530-623-4489.
Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) (Outside Source) This discretionary grant program is designed to increase the number of low-income students who are prepared to enter and succeed in post secondary education. GEAR UP provides six-year grants to states and partnerships to provide services at high-poverty middle and high schools. GEAR UP grantees serve an entire cohort of students beginning no later than the seventh grade and follow the cohort through high school. GEAR UP funds are also used to provide college scholarships to low-income students. Contact: Shelley Davis shelley.davis@ucop.edu, Phone: 916-551-1757, Fax: 916-551-1759.
