Braiding Funding, Supporting Students, and Elevating Expanded Learning: Insights from CSBA 2025
I had an incredible experience at the 2025 CSBA Annual Education Conference in Sacramento! Over three days, I connected with partners, met wonderfully dedicated board members, attended a wide variety of sessions, and left inspired by the collective heart poured into public education. Every conversation, hallway exchange, and workshop underscored the passion educators bring to creating safe, enriching, and forward-thinking learning environments for students across California.
A Closer Look at Expanded Learning & Mental Health
As someone deeply grounded in the work of expanded learning, I especially gravitated toward sessions exploring how districts can innovate in their out-of-school time programs. One standout session, “Braiding Expanded Learning and Mental Health Funds,” offered a powerful look at how California school districts can strategically leverage expanded learning dollars to enhance school-based mental health services. The panel consisted of leaders committed to whole-child support:
- Michael Funk, Division Director, Expanded Learning Division, California Department of Education
- Liz Gomez, Director, Health Wellness & Strategic Initiatives, Sacramento County Office Of Education
- Tony Lomeli, Senior Director, Student Support Services, Modesto City Schools
- Donielle Prince(Moderator), Senior Specialist, Equity & Quality at California AfterSchool Network (CAN)
Together, they illuminated the urgent need for comprehensive behavioral health support in the out-of-school time space. The data they shared was striking: mental health is the number one reason children ages 0 to 17 are hospitalized, and suicide remains the second leading cause of death for youth ages 10 to 24. These realities make clear that schools cannot address academic learning without also tending to students’ emotional and psychological well-being.
With nearly $5 billion in expanded learning funds circulating statewide, California has an unprecedented opportunity to maximize impact by aligning these resources with the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative (CYBHI). By braiding, not siloing, funding streams, districts can stretch each dollar further and ensure students receive comprehensive support throughout the entire year.
“A Reflection of Values and Priorities”
The session opened with remarks from Michael Funk, Director of the Expanded Learning Division at the California Department of Education (CDE). He grounded the conversation in a powerful reminder: “A district’s budget is a reflection of values and priorities.”
Setting priorities is about more than spreadsheets. It is about providing the conditions for students to feel, “There is someone here for me, and they care.”
Why Braided Funding Matters
This is where expanded learning becomes essential. By integrating CYBHI and expanded learning dollars, districts can ensure mental health services do not stop when the dismissal bell rings. Braided funding allows support to extend before school, after school, on intersession days, and throughout the summer, ensuring consistent access to care, connection, and community year-round.
The group also provided practical guidance for districts exploring braided funding. While expanded learning dollars are uniquely flexible, they cannot solely fund positions or services that also operate during the regular school day, which is a clear call for thoughtful cost-sharing models. Still, the opportunity is significant. If we are committed to offering students academic support and enrichment in expanded learning spaces, we must also commit to offering them the mental health support they need to thrive.
In Practice
This looks different for every district. For example, one of our district partners, Esther Garcia, Coordinator of Special Projects at Rowland Unified, shared how her team prioritized mental health in expanded learning by hiring two counsellors with staggered start times—ensuring coverage whenever students were present while honoring union agreements. As Esther put it best, “Crisis doesn’t stop at the bell.”
In California, staff already working in the expanded learning space can become Certified Wellness Coaches who can provide a range of non-clinical supports that promote youth behavioral health and overall well-being, including prevention and wellness education, early identification and screening, coordination of services, one-on-one and group-based supports, and connections to crisis resources when needed.
This approach is designed to strengthen and complement existing behavioral health staff, address workforce gaps, and expand a diverse network of trusted adults who can build meaningful relationships with young people.
There are options and funding for our students well-being, it is up to districts to get creative and start.
A Renewed Sense of Purpose
Walking away from the conference, I was reminded of just how deeply those in education care about doing what is right for kids. The work ahead requires creativity, collaboration, and a willingness to rethink how we braid resources. But with leaders like those on this panel, and with districts ready to align their budgets with their values, we are taking meaningful steps toward ensuring every student feels supported, seen, and safe all year long.
6crickets’ Role
At 6crickets, it is our mission to close the opportunity gap by empowering education leaders with modern tools to bring the best expanded learning to every student in every school. We believe every student deserves the chance to pursue their passions, explore their interests, and grow in a safe and supportive environment. Modern management tools like 6crickets remove the logistical barriers to such an undertaking and enhance program quality.
Our platform unifies and simplifies enrollment, attendance, reporting, and compliance into a single platform and connects expanded learning with in-school learning. That way, our district partners can focus on what matters most: delivering high-quality programs and care for students. Some partners have shared that our system reduced up to 90% of their administrative workload and have enabled them to offer choice-driven enrichment!
We empower expanded learning teams to lead with courage and creativity by building tools that support innovative expanded learning models, moving programs and students forward. If your district wants to take your expanded learning to the next level, we would love to support you as well. Please feel free to schedule a meeting so we can explore how to simplify your program operations and strengthen your impact.
Contact
shauna@6crickets.com | [Schedule a conversation]
Source
“Braiding Expanded Learning & Mental Health Funds”
Yours in Education,
6crickets Team
