All 285 students enrolled in Maple School District participate in the TK-8 local educational agency’s program, Rooted in Family, Community, and Education. Launched in August 2025, the initiative aims to strengthen student outcomes by empowering families first.
Located in rural Kern County, the 115-year-old single campus is surrounded by pistachio and almond orchards. About 61 percent of students come from low-income households and approximately 72 percent of students are Hispanic. According to Superintendent Bryan Easter, the school has long maintained a close-knit, family-centered culture, with many staff members spending their entire careers at Maple SD.
CSBA Public Affairs and Community Engagement Representative Cecilio Barrera saw the program in action while speaking to Easter about the role of adult engagement in children’s educational journeys, early successes the program has seen and how an already strong sense of community helped effectively launch the Rooted series with broad support from families and staff. CSBA is recognizing the exceptional work of small districts through the Small Schools, Big Ideas blog series.
The following conversation has been edited for length and clarity.
Can you briefly explain how the program works and why it was started?
High chronic absenteeism and declining attendance since the pandemic have challenged schools across California and the nation. As a district, Maple SD chose to focus on strengthening the family and household unit, believing strong practices at home would lead to improved academic outcomes and greater student engagement. The theme for this year, “Keepin’ it Rural,” centered on being “Rooted in Family, Community, and Education.” The team created and produced an eight-part video series covering topics such as nutrition, sleep habits, family conversations and more.
What short- and long-term outcomes would Maple SD like to see among students?
The overall goal is to improve family and community engagement, and student engagement, attendance and achievement.
What challenges have the district experienced when it comes to the program and how did you overcome them?
One of the challenges with these types of initiatives is funding, but Maple SD has been able to make this happen with strong support from the community and the local foundation. Throughout the year, the district hosts events celebrating the school’s rich agricultural heritage while bringing families and the community closer to student learning. For example, learning about the pollination process in the surrounding crops and about the machines that make the agriculture work.
How has Maple SD benefited from the program?
During the current 2025–26 school year, student engagement improved significantly. Compared to the 2024–25 school year, the attendance rate has increased by nearly 1 percent, reaching 96.2 percent. The chronic absenteeism rate has also declined by more than 1 percent, now sitting at approximately 5 percent. Campus culture surveys from students, staff and families show improved results, particularly in perceptions of school climate and feelings of connectedness. In addition, the suspension rate has dropped by more than 2 percent and is currently just 0.3 percent — equivalent to a single suspension for the entire school year. The school has experienced double digit growth on state assessments in math, English language arts and science over the past three years and anticipates this year to have significant growth again.
What are the district’s plans for the program moving forward?
The goal is to continue the program and continue to grow. Maple SD has received positive feedback from the students, staff and families. There are plans to add more family events and other partnerships that aligned with this initiative.
What advice do you have for other small LEAs that want to establish a program like this?
Hosting family interactive events on-site is a good way to initiate. Maple SD hosts two family picnics each year where over 300 family members join for picnic in the quad. This year they also hosted a family movie night and have two additional family events planned for next year.
Who should other small LEAs contact with questions and/or to schedule a visit?
Superintendent Bryan Easter: bryaneaster@mapleschool.org
