WASHINGTON, DC — U.S. Sens. Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) reintroduced The Full-Service Community School Expansion Act, a comprehensive bill to assist schools and districts in bringing in wraparound supports - including medical, mental, and nutrition health services, mentoring and youth development programs, technical assistance and continuing education courses – to serve students, families, and communities. This legislation would also provide essential resources for school districts to plan for, implement, and expand community schools, and would further develop the infrastructure to support these schools, which is especially important amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The legislation is also sponsored by Sens. Bob Casey (D-PA), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Martin Heinrich (D-NM). Rep. Mondaire Jones (D-NY) is leading the House version of the bicameral bill, along with Rep. David Trone (D-MD)

“Now more than ever, we must invest in our public schools to ensure our students and families have access to the basic physical, mental and nutrition health services they need to keep them healthy and safe. By expanding the successful community schools strategy across the country, we can provide critical resources to support the well-being of students, families and community members, and build out structural supports to help communities thrive,” said Senator Brown.

“This pandemic has only deepened the challenges educators and school staff face while trying to provide quality education and holistic care for our most vulnerable students,” said Senator Gillibrand. “The Full-Service Community School Expansion Act will provide community schools with the resources and technical assistance they need to provide integrated student supports ranging from academic opportunities and mentoring programs to the critical nutritional, medical, and mental health services that will better serve students and families. I am proud to introduce this legislation alongside my colleagues, and will keep fighting to make sure New Yorkers, and Americans across the country, all have access to a brighter future that starts with quality care in the classroom and in the neighborhoods which these schools call home.”

“Throughout this pandemic, students and educators are facing unprecedented challenges. These challenges have underscored the importance of the community school model, which aims to not only provide students with a top-notch education but also connects families with other vital services they need. By addressing students’ needs inside and outside of the classroom, community schools help remove barriers and set up students for success. As we’ve seen in Baltimore and across Maryland, this innovative approach is proven to work – making a positive difference in the lives of our students and their families. I’m proud to join my colleagues in reintroducing this bill, and I will continue pushing to further invest in and expand our community schools to ensure our students and families have the tools to succeed,” said Senator Van Hollen. 

“Every child deserves a quality education,” said Congressman Mondaire Jones. “But before our students can excel in the classroom, they must have their basic needs met. Community schools address the needs of the whole child by providing nutritional, medical, and mental health services; mentoring and youth development programs; technical assistance; and much more. As we work to ensure an equitable recovery from the COVID-19 crisis, community schools are one of the most effective tools to close gaps in educational attainment and ensure that students, families, and entire communities have the support they deserve. I’m proud to introduce the Full Service Community School Expansion Act to help provide every young person in Westchester and Rockland -- including in school districts like East Ramapo -- and across the country the opportunity to thrive in and outside of the classroom.”

Specifically, The Full-Service Community School Expansion Act 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.

The Full-Service Community School Expansion Act has been endorsed by a number of national organizations, including the National Educators Association (NEA), Coalition for Community Schools and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT).

“All students, 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,” said Becky Pringle, President of the National Education Association. “The National Education Association commends Senator Sherrod Brown and Representative Mondaire Jones for their leadership in introducing the Full-Service Community Schools Expansion Act of 2021, 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.

“The Coalition for Community Schools, including our hundreds of national, state, and local partners, are thrilled to support the Full-Service Community Schools Expansion Act of 2021. 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 of our House sponsor, Representative Mondaire Jones, and look forward to working with them and other members of Congress to champion this significant legislation,” said Jose Munoz, Director of the Coalition for Community Schools, Institute for Educational Leadership.

“The Full-Service Community School Expansion Act, introduced by Sen. Sherrod Brown, is a major step forward in rethinking public education. It will put states and school districts in a position to truly embrace a strategy that better meets the needs of students, particularly given the new and expanded challenges and trauma students and communities are facing during the pandemic. This bold investment in community schools will enable schools and communities to better coordinate resources that meet family's basic needs, support the mental health of students, accelerate learning, and support family efforts to re-enter the workforce, all of which create a better environment for students.” said Randi Weingarten, President of the America Federation of Teachers.

The bill is also supported by: the Institute for Educational Leadership, Community Learning Center Institute, Children’s Aid, MENTOR: The National Mentoring Partnership, Healthy Schools Campaign, School-Based Health Alliance, StriveTogether, Journey 4 Justice, Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents, Maryland Out of School Time Network, Maryland Coalition for Community Schools, Ohio Community Learning Center Collaborative, the School Superintendents Association, Adopt a Class, the National Association of Secondary School Principals, The Netter Center for Community Partnerships at the University of Pennsylvania, the Maryland State Education Association, National Association of Elementary School Principals, Communities in Schools National Office, National Association of School Nurses, First Focus on Children, the Education Redesign Lab at Harvard Graduate School of Education, MindPeace, Promise Heights, AFT-Maryland, the Public Schools Superintendents’ Association of Maryland, National League of Cities, Strong Future Maryland, The Education Trust.

A one-pager on the bill can be read here.

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