Center Overview
The U.S. Department of Education selected WestEd as the lead agency to operate the California Comprehensive Center (CA CC). WestEd is a nonprofit research, development and service agency, working with education and other communities to promote excellence, achieve equity, and improve learning for children, youth and adults.
In the CA CC, WestEd is partnering with the American Institutes for Research (AIR) and School Services of California (SSC). AIR is a nonprofit applied research firm operating in California since 1946, developing and disseminating information and resources, and providing technical assistance to support educators in using research-based programs and practices. During the past 30 years SSC has served most of California's schools districts, county offices, and community colleges in meeting their management, governance and fiscal responsibilities. These two organizations complement the resources of WestEd to fulfill the mission of the CA CC.
The CA CC is part of a federal network of 16 regional Comprehensive Centers charged with building state capacity to implement fully the federal No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), improve student achievement and close achievement gaps. The CA CC provides assistance to the California Department of Education and other state agencies, as well as to statewide groups and organizations that help districts and schools implement NCLB.
The priority areas of the CA CC are the following:
1) Supporting those working to build the capacity of districts and schools to improve student achievement. 2) Building the capacity of the state and districts to support students with special needs,
including English learners, and students in Special Education and Migrant Education 3) Disseminating research-based and promising practices. 4) Building the capacity of key statewide networks to support NCLB implementation. 5) Building the capacity of the state to use technologies to support districts and schools.
Dr. Fred Tempes is the Director of the CA CC. Dr. Rose Owens-West and Dr. Sharon Tucker are the Associate Directors.
Methods
Methods include: Facilitating inter-organizational, coordination and collaboration; identifying and disseminating information and other resources including those from other federally funded technical assistance centers/projects; assisting SEAs to implement new plans or systems; assisting SEAs with workshop, seminars and other training events; identifying and using researched-based evidence; consultation; professional development for SEAs.
States
- CA
Center Type
- Comprehensive Center
Dates
- 2005-10-01
- 2010-09-30
Department of Education Contact
- Sharon Horn
- sharon.horn@ed.gov
- (202) 205-4956
Center Contact
- Virginia Reynolds
- vreynol@wested.org
-
1107 9th Street, 4th Floor
Sacramento, CA 95814
Recipients
- State Agency Staff