“The U.S. Department of Education released the Notice of Proposed Priorities, definitions, and requirements for the Full-Service Community Schools competitive grant program and tomorrow is launching a 30-day public comment period for the program. These proposed priorities align with the vision set forth by the Biden-Harris Administration and U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona in support of high-quality educational opportunities for all students and the important role of full-service community schools in providing wraparound and academic supports to students and families that are critical in their academic success. Full-service community schools work collaboratively with students’ families and leverage community-based resources to provide a tailored set of coordinated services and programs to a school community. Community schools meet student social, emotional, mental health, and academic needs through after school and summer learning and enrichment opportunities, as well as mental and physical health services. During the pandemic, community schools, for example, re-engaged students, hosted vaccine clinics, provided meals, and secured technology to ensure students can access remote learning.
“Community schools play a vital role in achieving President Biden’s vision of building our education system back better than before the pandemic,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona. “The last two years have taught us how critical schools can be in providing wraparound supports to students and families—such as access to mental health services, basic needs, and high-quality academic instruction. When schools are at the center of our neighborhoods and communities, children, youth, and families benefit. I am thrilled that this program can enable more students and families to access full-service community schools, and that President Biden proposed in his budget to invest hundreds of millions of dollars in community schools, which have been proven to improve student well-being and academic success.”
Read the full release here.