Congress Appropriates $10 million for Full-Service Community Schools
The Full-Service Community Schools program, not funded by Congress since FY 2010, received $10 million in the omnibus. This is a testament to the mounting evidence in the field of the impact of community schools, as well the advocacy by partners in IEL’s Coalition for Community Schools. The Full-Service program received $5 million in FY 2008, $5 million in FY 2009, and $10 million in FY 2010. A bill that has been introduced since 2007 by Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD) and will soon be reintroduced this Congress would authorize this program as part of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.
Martin J. Blank, Director of IEL’s Coalition for Community Schools and President of IEL, states "The reinstatement of Full-Service funding is a huge win for community schools advocates. It shows that not only are we seeing results on the ground, but we’re capturing the increased attention of policymakers whorecognize that the community schools strategy improves schools, families and communities through its collaborative, community-based approach."
In addition to the Full-Service funding the 21st Century Community Learning Centers program received an increase of nearly $58 million, another win for community schools that rely on much of 21st Century funding for afterschool, expanded learning opportunities and extracurricular programs that are vital to the community schools strategy.
Read more about other investments in the FY 14 Omnibus here.