Center for Supportive Schools

09/16/2026

Sometimes, showing up starts with knowing someone wants you there.

A new Oaklandside story explores the potential of peer mentoring to combat chronic absenteeism—and the power of student-to-student connection to help young people stay engaged in school.

Read more: https://bit.ly/4xV80Wm

Oakland schools have a problem with chronic absenteeism. The Greenlight Fund is investing $1 million to expand peer interventions that appear to work.

09/14/2026

🎒 Back to school. Back to connection. Back to belonging.

One Week Left! Join CSS and BRSE for Creating a Culture of Belonging—a virtual conversation about how student leadership and intentional peer relationships can create stronger, more connected school communities.

📅 September 22, 2026
⏰ 3:00 p.m. ET
💻 Virtual

Get introduced to Peer Group Connection (PGC), explore impact data, discover new approaches to elevating student voice—and get a sneak peek at the BRSE National Conference at Walt Disney World Resort!

Register now: https://bit.ly/4hOCu7L

Join the Center for Supportive Schools (CSS) and Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence (BRSE) on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. (EDT) for Creating a Culture of Belonging: Empowering Students to Lead, Connect, & Thrive, an interactive virtual event exploring how intentional peer relationships....

09/10/2026

💬 Join Attendance Works, the Institute for Educational Leadership and campaign partners on Sept. 23 at 12 p.m. PT / 3 p.m. ET for the fourth webinar in the 2026 Attendance Awareness Campaign series: Ensure Support All Year Long.

✔️A systemic approach to addressing attendance during every school season
✔️Examples of effective practices, including the use of AI and data-informed strategies, for sustained attendance throughout the year
✔️An actionable, year-long plan that prioritizes and integrates attendance and engagement into the fabric of the school community

Confirmed Speakers:
Hugo Lopez, Director, Child Welfare, Attendance and Records at Ontario-Montclair School District, Ontario, CA
Lauren D. Holmes, Executive Director, Division of Student Support and Federal Programs, Maryland State Department of Education, Baltimore, MD
Derek Anderson, Executive Director, Community School Branch, Division of Student Support and Federal Programs, Maryland State Department of Education, Baltimore, MD
Annie Reed, Executive Director, Community and Customer Solutions, Kaiser Permanente, Oakland, CA
Kwesi Rollins, Interim President, Institute for Educational Leadership
Lorri Hobson, Director of Product Development, Attendance Works
Hedy Chang, CEO and President, Attendance Works

🔗 Register: https://www.attendanceworks.org/resources/webinars/

Join us for the 2026 Attendance Awareness Campaign featuring the slogan “Your Presence Matters!” This year we will focus on the power of student and family engagement all year long. Each webinar will feature practitioners who will share practical resources and examples of what schools and distri...

09/09/2026

Can peer mentoring help keep Oakland students in school? We believe it can.

The Oaklandside explores how peer relationships and student leadership can help address chronic absenteeism and strengthen students’ connection to school.

Read the story: https://bit.ly/4xV80Wm

Oakland schools have a problem with chronic absenteeism. The Greenlight Fund is investing $1 million to expand peer interventions that appear to work.

09/08/2026

💙 Belonging doesn’t happen by accident. It’s built through relationships.

What happens when schools intentionally create opportunities for students to connect, lead, and support one another?

Join CSS + BRSE for Creating a Culture of Belonging on September 22 at 3:00 p.m. ET to explore how peer relationships and student leadership can transform school culture.

We’ll introduce Peer Group Connection (PGC) and share evidence of its impact on:

📈 Student attendance
🤝 Peer relationships
🧠 Social-emotional learning
🏫 School community and culture

Plus, get a sneak peek at the upcoming BRSE National Conference at Walt Disney World Resort!

Save your spot: https://bit.ly/4hOCu7L

Join the Center for Supportive Schools (CSS) and Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence (BRSE) on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. (EDT) for Creating a Culture of Belonging: Empowering Students to Lead, Connect, & Thrive, an interactive virtual event exploring how intentional peer relationships....

09/04/2026

🎉 Students are leading the way in Oakland!

We’re thrilled to see KTVU spotlight the power of peer leadership to help students feel connected, supported, and excited to be in school.

Through a transformative $1 million investment from GreenLight Fund Bay Area, the Center for Supportive Schools is bringing Peer Group Connection (PGC) to Oakland—empowering older students to mentor younger peers and create stronger, more connected school communities. 💙

Because when students have someone in their corner, belonging grows, engagement grows, and possibilities grow.

📺 Watch the KTVU feature and see peer leadership in action!
👉 https://bit.ly/4qQbtTV

Green Light Fund Bay Area is investing $1 million in a leadership program that will pair older students mentors with younger classmates to keep them in school.

09/02/2026

🏫 What if student leadership could be the key to a stronger culture of belonging?

Join the Center for Supportive Schools (CSS) and Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence (BRSE) on Tuesday, September 22 at 3:00 p.m. ET for Creating a Culture of Belonging—an interactive virtual event exploring how intentional peer relationships and student leadership can help students feel more connected to their peers and their school community.

You’ll:
✨ Discover Peer Group Connection (PGC), CSS’s evidence-based peer-to-peer leadership program
📊 Explore impact data, including attendance and social-emotional learning outcomes
🎤 Learn how student voice and leadership can strengthen school culture
👀 Get a sneak peek at what’s ahead at the BRSE National Conference at Walt Disney World Resort

Whether you’re a district leader, school administrator, counselor, educator, or student-support professional, you’ll leave with practical ideas for creating schools where students feel seen, supported, and connected.

📅 September 22, 2026
⏰ 3:00 p.m. ET
💻 Virtual
Register today: https://bit.ly/4hOCu7L

Join the Center for Supportive Schools (CSS) and Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence (BRSE) on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. (EDT) for Creating a Culture of Belonging: Empowering Students to Lead, Connect, & Thrive, an interactive virtual event exploring how intentional peer relationships....

08/31/2026

What if the key to keeping students in school is connection?

KTVU is shining a spotlight on the power of peer leadership to combat chronic absenteeism in Oakland.

Through a $1 million investment from GreenLight Fund Bay Area, the Center for Supportive Schools is bringing Peer Group Connection (PGC) to Oakland—empowering older students to mentor younger peers, build belonging, and strengthen engagement.

When students lead, students connect. And when students connect, they’re more likely to thrive.

🎥 Watch the KTVU feature: https://bit.ly/4qQbtTV

Green Light Fund Bay Area is investing $1 million in a leadership program that will pair older students mentors with younger classmates to keep them in school.

08/26/2026

For nearly 50 years, Peer Group Connection has helped students build the relationships, skills, and sense of belonging they need to stay engaged in school. Now, CSS is partnering with GreenLight Fund Bay Area to bring this proven approach to more students—serving 7,000+ students across the Bay Area.

Together, we’re helping more students show up, connect, and thrive. Full press release available here: https://bit.ly/3TYh0LN

GreenLight Fund Bay Area invests $1M to bring Peer Group Connection to Oakland, reaching 7,200+ students across 10 schools.

08/19/2026

See https://bit.ly/3TYh0LN for an exciting announcement of a transformative investment into CSS! We are so excited to partner with GreenLight Fund Bay Area to address chronic absenteeism and student disengagement beginning this fall in Oakland!