Summary#
This bill would add a new, expanded full-service community schools program to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. It sets authorized funding levels for fiscal years 2027–2031, defines key terms (for example, community school coordinator, pillars of community schools, school-based and community-wide leadership teams), and creates grant types and rules for who can apply and how funds must be used. The Secretary of Education would award planning grants, multi-year implementation grants, expansion grants, and State grants, and provide technical assistance. The program includes a special component for Bureau of Indian Education and tribally controlled schools. The bill requires public meetings for leadership teams, nondiscrimination assurances, data-sharing agreements, reporting to the Department and to Congress, and evaluation and reporting requirements for grantees.
What it means for you#
- Schools and districts: Local educational agencies and eligible entities can apply for planning, implementation, and expansion grants to create or expand full-service community schools. Eligible schools are public elementary or secondary schools with at least 40% of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch or schools identified as needing additional support.
- Coordinators and staff: Grants must support hiring or funding community school coordinators and may fund other staff, training, and partnerships.
- Families and community partners: The law requires community-wide and school-based leadership teams that include parents, educators, students (for secondary schools), community partners, and service providers. Meetings are to be open to the public.
- Tribal and Bureau schools: The bill creates tailored planning and grant authority for Bureau of Indian Education and tribally controlled schools and allows some waivers or alternative requirements when needed.
- Privacy and nondiscrimination: Grantees must have data-sharing agreements and ensure services funded by grants do not discriminate based on protected characteristics listed in the bill.
Expenses#
- Authorized appropriations for section 4625: $500,000,000 (FY2027), $600,000,000 (FY2028), $700,000,000 (FY2029), $850,000,000 (FY2030), and $1,000,000,000 (FY2031).
- Distribution rules: At least 80% of funds must go to planning, implementation, and expansion grants; up to 15% may go to State grants; up to 5% may be used for technical assistance. From the implementation/expansion portion, at least 5% is reserved for the Bureau/Tribal component. For 2027–2029, expansion grants are limited to no more than 20% of total expansion/implementation funds.
- Minimum award sizes: Planning grants not less than $100,000 (and not more than $100,000 per eligible school served); implementation grants at least $250,000 per year per eligible school served; expansion grants at least $300,000 per year plus an additional $150,000 for each additional school (with 3–5 year terms depending on grant type).
- State grants: States may use up to 10% of their grant for administration and must use at least 90% to directly benefit local agencies or schools.
Proponents' View#
No publicly available information.
Opponents' View#
No publicly available information.