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 an elementary through postsecondary program to prepare all students with potential to succeed in rigorous curriculum and achieve four year college eligibility. Contact: Robin Kisinger rkisinger@avidcenter.org, Phone: 858-380-4777, Fax: 858-268-2265.
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: Creig Nicks cnicks@mrpk.org, Phone: 805-531-6437, Fax: 805-531-6456; Mary Gomes mgomes@acsa.org, Phone: 916-329-3836, Fax: 916-290-0450.
California Department of Education—Middle Grades Improvement Office (CDE—MGIO) MGIO provides information and resources for middle grades stakeholders. To ensure success and close the achievement gap for all of California’s middle grades students, CDE presents 12 Recommendations for Middle Grades Success via CDE’s Web portal: http://pubs.cde.ca.gov/tcsii. Contact: tcsii@cde.ca.gov, Phone: 916-322-1892, Fax: 916-322-3390; Marsha Robinson mrobinson@cde.ca.gov, Phone: 916-319-0352 .
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 six-eight population. Benefits of participation in the CMGPN include networking with other administrators on best practices, 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: Linda Solis lsolis@ramonausd.net, Phone: 760-787-2400; Chris Dowell cdowell@cde.ca.gov, Phone: 916-445-7757.
California Parent Teachers Association (CAPTA) (Outside Source) CAPTA is a volunteer membership organization whose purpose is to address the educational and social needs of all children with a focus on the importance of parent/family involvement, safe and nurturing environments, and proper funding, curriculum, and leadership in our public schools. CAPTA represents its members by supporting and empowering them with skills in advocacy, leadership and communication. Contact: Suzan Solomon education@capta.org, Phone: 916-440-1985 ext 305, Fax 916-440-1986.
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 Sharonstys@gmail.com, Phone: 562-693-5694, Fax: 562-309-9020.
California Schools to Watch™ – Taking Center Stage (STW™–TCS) Each year, STW™–TCS program seeks to designate a small number of diverse, high-performing, high impact middle schools as comprehensive models from which other schools can learn and be inspired. These schools demonstrate academic excellence, developmental responsiveness (responsive to the needs and interests of young adolescents), social equity, and strong organizational support. Contact: Irvin Howard, Director stwcal@gmail.com, 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: Anita Benitas abenitas@cta.org, Phone: 916-288-4925; Eric Padget mathdude2@yahoo.com, Phone: 714-309-3884 (cell).
Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) (Outside Source) This federal grant program is designed to increase the number of low-income students who are prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary education. GEAR UP provides 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.
United Way of Greater Los Angeles (UWGLA) (Outside Source) is a nonprofit organization that creates pathways out of poverty by focusing on meeting basic needs, improving educational achievement, and increasing financial stability for the most vulnerable in our community. United Way seeks to increase the graduation rate in Los Angeles County through four strategies: its research work, exemplified in Seizing the Middle Ground: Why Middle School Creates the Pathway to College and the Workforce; partnering with community leaders and supporters to solve the issues; funding targeted programs and advocating for change. Contact: Elise Buik, ebuik@unitedwayla.org, Phone: 213-808-6220, Fax: 213-808-6531.