November 6, 2020 - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand introduced legislation with U.S. Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) to expand community school funding and ensure students, families, and communities have the resources needed for students to thrive. The Full-Service Community School Expansion Act of 2020 would help public k-12 schools serve students, families, and communities by investing more than $3 billion in public schools to be community hubs and provide integrated student supports, expanded and enriched learning opportunities, collaborative leadership, and family and community engagement – including medical, mental, and nutrition health services, mentoring and youth development programs, and continuing education courses. Currently, the Full-Service Community Schools grant program is funded at just $17.5 million and does not have adequate funding to serve New York school districts in need of resources to establish community schools or support those already established. The Full-Service Community School Expansion Act of 2020 would deliver essential resources for school districts to plan for, implement, and expand community schools in New York State and across the country. It would also further develop the infrastructure to support them. 

“For far too many students in low-income and underserved communities, the challenges they face outside of school are carried into the classroom. Unfortunately the public health and economic crises caused by the pandemic have placed an even heavier burden on these students who were already at risk of falling behind, and cash-strapped public schools have had limited funding to provide adequate resources for students and their surrounding communities,” said Senator Gillibrand. “This legislation will deliver critical funding to support the comprehensive needs of students both in and out of the classroom. By investing in our public schools and strengthening connections to the community, we can help close the pervasive learning gaps in our country so that every student – no matter their socioeconomic status or zip code – can access a quality education.”

“The Coalition for Community Schools, including our dozens of national, state, and local partners, are thrilled to support the Full-Service Community Schools Expansion Act of 2020. We were proud to work with Senators Brown, Van Hollen, and Gillibrand, and our community school leaders across the country to shape legislation that reflects the current best practices of community schools and to be bold in an appropriations level that recognizes the high need and demand across the country for this evidence-based strategy. We are grateful for the support and leadership of our Senate champions and look forward to working with them and other members of Congress to champion this significant legislation,” said Jose Munoz, Director, Coalition for Community Schools, Institute for Educational Leadership.

“All children, no matter their race or ethnicity, gender or gender expression, no matter where they come from or where they live, deserve a safe and welcoming school where they can thrive. Community schools play a critical role in delivering tremendous educational opportunities for students while also offering hope, opportunity and transformation to entire communities. The National Education Association commends Senators Sherrod Brown, Chris Van Hollen and Kirsten Gillibrand for their leadership in introducing the Full-Service Community Schools Expansion Act of 2020, which would improve and increase the federal investment in the community schools program. They understand and share in the vision that every student must be prepared to succeed in a diverse and interdependent world, and this federal legislation helps put students on that path,” said Becky Pringle, a sixth grade science teacher who serves as the president of the 3-million-member National Education Association.

“Community schools recognize that schools can be so much more than where students learn basic instruction– they’re a model for how we rethink public education to serve the whole child, support their families, and re-center our schools as places of comity and support. Community schools answer a problem educators have long encountered – that a student, who is hungry or cannot see the board, will struggle to learn, and they allow schools to address needs that are social, emotional, physical, as well as academic. Now in the midst of this pandemic they are more important than ever. By enabling schools to draw on partnerships with nonprofits, local government and businesses in order to help meet a host of student needs, community schools enhance student learning. The Full Service Community Schools Expansion Act of 2020, introduced by Sens. Brown, Gillibrand and Van Hollen would be a game-changer for public education. It will put states and school districts in a position to truly embrace a model that better meets the needs of students, particularly given the new and expanded challenges students are facing in the wake of the pandemic, the recession, and so much more,” said Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers. 

Specifically, the Full-Service Community School Expansion Act of 2020 would:

• Invest $3.65 billion over the next five years to plan, implement, expand, and support full-service community schools serving low-income students;
• Provide renewable grant opportunities and additional resources to existing community schools to build collaborative leadership structures and strengthen wraparound services that support the needs of students, families, and neighborhoods. 
• Build out community school infrastructure by funding the establishment of state-level teams that provide professional development opportunities and resources for community school staff, work with schools and local educational agencies (LEAs) to develop and implement restorative justice principles, and collaborate with LEAs on integrating supports for community schools; and
• Set aside up to 5% of funds for technical assistance and support to leverage federal, state, and local resources that address healthcare and early childhood education, connect LEAs with other statewide institutions, and inform LEAs of funding opportunities.

A one-pager of the legislation can be found here.  
Source: Senator Kirsten Gillibrand