Summary#
This bill creates a larger federal grant program to plan, start, expand, and support full-service community schools. It adds or clarifies definitions (for example, community school coordinator, community-wide leadership team, and the "pillars of community schools"). The program funds planning grants, 5-year implementation grants, and 3–5 year expansion grants. The Secretary of Education must run the grant competitions, give priority to high-need, rural, Tribal, and Native Hawaiian communities, and set reporting requirements. The bill also creates a Bureau of Indian Education and Tribally-controlled full-service community schools program and allows some waivers for those schools. It requires a public report to Congress about program impacts within five years and directs technical assistance, including a national steering committee and an optional technical assistance center.
What it means for you#
- Schools and local districts that meet the bill's definition of "eligible school" (for example, at least 40% of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch or schools identified as needing additional support) could apply for planning, implementation, or expansion grants.
- Eligible entities will need to carry out needs-and-assets assessments, form school-based and community-wide leadership teams, and hire or designate a community school coordinator.
- Grants must support integrated student supports (health, mental health, housing supports, legal help, nutrition, etc.), expanded learning time and enrichment activities, family and community engagement, collaborative leadership, and classroom instruction tied to community learning.
- Grant-funded leadership team meetings must be open to the public, grant recipients must maintain nondiscrimination assurances, and some student data-sharing agreements will be required for service coordination.
- States can apply for separate grants to plan and support community school work statewide and must use most state grant funds to benefit local schools.
Expenses#
- Authorized appropriations specifically for this program: $500,000,000 for FY2027; $600,000,000 for FY2028; $700,000,000 for FY2029; $850,000,000 for FY2030; and $1,000,000,000 for FY2031.
- Of funds made available under the program, the Secretary must use at least 80% to award planning, implementation, and expansion grants; not more than 15% to award State grants; and not more than 5% for technical assistance.
- From the portion used for planning/implementation/expansion grants, at least 5% must be reserved to carry out the Bureau of Indian Education and Tribally-controlled program described in the bill.
- Minimum grant amounts in the bill: planning grants not less than $100,000 (and capped at $100,000 per eligible school); implementation grants of at least $250,000 per year for each eligible school served; expansion grants of not less than $300,000 per year plus $150,000 for each additional school served (with a 20% cap on expansion grant funding of available funds for FY2027–2029).
- States receiving grants must use not more than 10% of their award for administration and at least 90% to directly benefit local agencies or schools.
Proponents' View#
The bill text focuses on improving and expanding the federal full-service community school program to support whole-child success. It strengthens and clarifies key roles (community school coordinators and initiative directors), establishes clear program pillars (integrated supports, expanded learning, family and community engagement, collaborative leadership, rigorous instruction, and a culture of belonging), and sets rules for planning, implementation, expansion, reporting, and technical assistance. It also includes a specific program path for Bureau of Indian Education and Tribally-controlled schools and requires a public report to Congress on program impact within five years.
Opponents' View#
No publicly available information.