Over 5,700 Sacramento-area students call Gateway Community Charters (GCC) home, a place where they have high-quality, standards-based education options across nine charter schools. At the heart of GCC is community, collaboration and innovation, and it has been that way for over two decades.

Jason Sample, incoming superintendent/CEO, says he’s been with GCC in various roles for 20 years and knows GCC can continue to make a meaningful and lasting impact.

“Overall, our legacy is one of academic excellence, social-emotional development, community engagement and innovation,” he says. “By focusing on these areas, I believe we can make a meaningful and lasting impact on the lives of our students and the wider community.”

GCC’s new Community Schools Initiative will further this impact through grant funding from the California Community Schools Partnership Program (CCSPP). The GCC plans to support the schools’ efforts to partner with community agencies and local government and align community resources to improve student and community outcomes.

“Our partnerships will focus on academics, health and social services, youth and community development, and community engagement,” Sample says.

“Gateway Community Charters continues to refine, improve and fulfill its vision of creating quality school choices with an emphasis on serving the needs of vulnerable, unserved and underserved populations” —Jason Sample Incoming Superintendent/CEO

An example of GCC’s community vision is how the organization is assisting Ukrainian refugee families flocking to Sacramento. “To meet the needs of our immigrant families, GCC has partnered with local charities, faith-based organizations and government agencies to provide services and resources,” Sample says.

GCC schools such as Community Outreach Academy, Gateway International School, Empowering Possibilities International Charter School and Futures High School offer free breakfast and lunch for all students, school supplies for new students, free Wi-Fi hotspots, monthly food box distribution programs and free after-school and summer school programs.

“GCC will continue to expand efforts to increase our public charter school choice offerings and increase our impact on area youth and their families,” Sample says. “Specifically, GCC’s hopes for the future are to open two new charters in the next five to seven years.”