Featured Middle Grades Organization
A Collaborative Network Dedicated to
Strengthening the Middle Grades—
California Middle Grades Partnership Network
TCSII will routinely feature an organization working on behalf of middle grades education in California. We encourage you to explore the featured organization in-depth and learn more about how they can support your efforts to ensure success and close the achievement gap in the middle grades.
The California Middle Grades Partnership Network (CMGPN) began in 1988 with educators from 100 middle schools that were committed to middle school reform. Sponsored by the California Department of Education (CDE), the CMGPN is a collaborative, administrator-to-administrator and school-to-school network. With the goal of meeting the academic, social, and emotional needs of young adolescents, the network believes that strong middle schools can:
- Help students become motivated, caring, and dedicated individuals with the values and skills necessary for success in life.
- Prevent students from becoming disengaged and dropping out.
- Give all students the academic skills they need to succeed in a rigorous high school program.
Local networks meet several times a year to provide support, serve as mentors, conduct site visits, and assist one another with challenges and issues focused on improving middle grades education and student achievement. Middle schools and elementary schools serving grades sixth through eighth students are eligible to participate in the network. Members from urban, suburban, rural, small, large, and high- and low-performing schools are encouraged and welcomed to participate in this cost-effective, collaborative program.
Networks are established within geographic regions according to school locations. Regional networks identify a fiscal agent from among their partner schools, agencies, or institutions of higher education to monitor funding that supports network activities. One representative from each regional network is selected as coordinator and serves as the communication link between the regional network and CDE. Regional coordinators attend quarterly state symposia and bring vital information back to their networks. There are currently 27 active regional networks throughout the state.
Participation benefits include collegial support, site visitations to model middle schools, high-quality and low-cost professional development, sharing of best practices, and a collaborative voice in middle grades policy. CMGPN members are kept current on CDE activities and initiatives, state and federal mandates and pending legislation, middle-level research, special state and federal projects, and grants or special funding opportunities. Internal networks provide input on state middle school policy development and share professional development plans and activities, successful networking management strategies, middle school issues, and challenges and solutions. Local and state networks pool resources to provide critically needed middle-level professional development.
See California Middle Grades Partnership Network for a list of regional coordinators, to download a brochure, or join an online discussion group.
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