Northern California

Our partners at California State University-Chico and North State Together are supporting innovative programs connecting new teachers to rural communities.

California State University-Chico

Our Northern California Regional Hub is anchored by rural-serving Chico State University. Karen Schreder, Regional Faculty Fellow at California State University-Chico serves as a primary contact for the Northern California Regional Hub.


Serving a geographically and culturally diverse region the size of Ohio, California State University-Chico is a higher education institution dedicated to ensuring the voices of all students who come to campus are heard and empowering, including rural students. The North State region of California holds the distinction of being almost entirely rural, more so than many of the places in the central or southern parts of the state. “Our region is vast,” shares Karen Schreder, “We have a national park in our region, lakes, forests, and agriculture is a dominant economic driver.”

Pride of place is something that Chico State has dedicated itself to encouraging and cultivating among its students. Along with a rural student affinity space in the library and the work of the Chico Student Success Center to support rural students’ needs, Karen details that Chico’s School of Education offers “several teacher residency programs that specifically serve rural schools. Chico State is tirelessly committed to serving the rural people and communities of far northern California, and offers a suite of teacher pathway programs, such as the CLASS Program, to realize that vision.”

Relentless Alumna Pursues Dream, Advocates for Rural Students

A first-generation college student and eldest of three, Cyanna Iñiguez (Civil Engineering, ’24) faced expectations to remain in her rural community of McArthur, population 678, after high school - full feature article.

North State Together

North State Together is one of the largest geographical collectives in the United States, covering 10 counties and over 31,000 square miles. It provides direct resources, data, and research support to the ten counties that comprise the region. Susan Schroth, Operations Manager and GRAD Partnership for Student Success Director for North State Together, serves as a primary contact for the Northern California Regional Hub.


The North State region of California is fortunate to have an engaged network of local organizations dedicated to ensuring the future prosperity and success of their local communities. Unifying these pockets of good work toward a common goal of collective impact and student success is North State Together. Through the generosity of local organizations, rural community activists, and the McConnell Foundation, North State Together was created through Shasta College as a backbone organization providing essential data, operations, and collaborative support to the region.

Northstate Together is a Participant of Rural Schools Collaborative's GRAD Partnership For Advancing Student Success, a national initiative to explore alternative achievement metrics. North State Together is partnering with RSC to bring support grants to 10 rural high schools in the Northern California region. To read about these schools, in addition to other invigorating programs and updates from across northern California, explore below.

North State Together Promo

Spotlight

Pictured: Far Left - Tara Wright-Baley, Counselor at Tulelake, Far Right - Susan Schroth, GRAD Partnership Director at North State Together, featured with Tulelake Student Council members.

GRAD Partnership Rural School Spotlight: Tulelake, CA

RSC and our partner GRAD Partnership Intermediaries at North State Together (NST) had the opportunity to visit Tulelake Basin High School in Tulelake, CA. Learn more about their efforts to build school connectedness and students success.

The Tulelake Basin High School team, in collaboration with the GRAD Partnership and North State Together (NST), is transforming student engagement and success through innovative strategies led by school counselor Tara Wright-Baley, a proud Tulelake alum. The small town of Tulelake, with its predominantly Hispanic student population, faced challenges with attendance and grades, but through a focus on connectedness, the school has made significant strides. Initiatives like student-led activities, a mentorship program, and increased school spirit are fostering a sense of community and belonging. Students are now more engaged, with better attendance and morale, thanks to the active involvement of the student body and their voices shaping the school experience. Read on to explore how these efforts are reshaping Tulelake Basin High School’s culture and supporting student success.

Read more