about the program

WestEd's Comprehensive School Assistance Program helps schools that fail to meet state or federal achievement goals. To close the achievement gap in these under-performing schools, CSAP employs a three-part strategy: First, the program helps schools, their districts, and those who work with them plan, implement, and refine research-based, comprehensive school improvement efforts. Second, through publications, webinars, journal articles, and conference presentations, CSAP contributes to a growing knowledge base of how low-performing schools can improve student achievement. Finally, the program brings together research and practical experience to inform policymakers at all levels as they make critical decisions designed to ensure all students succeed academically.

CSAP works closely with SchoolsMovingUp, a WestEd initiative that helps schools and districts address the immense challenge of raising student achievement in low-performing schools. SchoolsMovingUp offers a wealth of practical ideas and models for school improvement, including profiles of previously low-performing schools from across the country that have improved student achievement.

In addition, CSAP houses the California Comprehensive Center (CA CC) at WestEd in partnership with American Institutes for Research (AIR) and School Services of California (SSC). The CA CC, part of a federal network of 16 regional Comprehensive Assistance Centers serving individual states or clusters of states, is 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.