The Biden-Harris Administration’s Every Day Counts Summit in May 2024 underscored a critical need: boosting student attendance and engagement. A cornerstone of this initiative is the strategic investment in full-service community schools. These schools are recognized as a highly effective, evidence-based model for addressing the multifaceted needs of students, their families, and the wider community. This article delves into how the U.S. Department of Education’s Full-Service Community Schools (FSCS) program is instrumental in fostering a holistic approach to education, ultimately driving student success.
Understanding Full-Service Community Schools
The Full-Service Community Schools (FSCS) program is designed to support the planning, implementation, and operation of schools that function as community hubs. These institutions go beyond traditional academics, integrating a range of crucial services. The primary goal is to improve the coordination, accessibility, and effectiveness of support systems for children and families, particularly within high-poverty areas, including rural communities. This comprehensive model hinges on four key pillars:
- Integrated Student Supports: Addressing social determinants of learning by providing access to social, health, nutrition, and mental health services, as well as juvenile crime prevention programs.
- Expanded and Enriched Learning Time and Opportunities: Extending learning beyond the regular school day through early childhood education, out-of-school time programs, support for educational transitions, and activities promoting postsecondary and workforce readiness.
- Active Family and Community Engagement: Building strong partnerships with families and community organizations to create a supportive ecosystem around the student.
- Collaborative Leadership and Practices: Fostering shared leadership among educators, community partners, families, and students to ensure programs are responsive to local needs.
Each full-service community school customizes its services to meet the unique needs of its local context, ensuring relevance and maximum impact.
Funding and Expansion of Full-Service Community Schools
The U.S. Department of Education has demonstrated a strong commitment to the FSCS program through significant financial investment. In Fiscal Year 2024, Congress allocated $150 million to the FSCS Grant program. These funds are dedicated to continuing support for existing grantees from previous years (FY 2020, FY 2022, and FY 2023), ensuring the stability and ongoing success of these vital community institutions. While there will be no new grant competition in FY 2024, the substantial funding underscores the program’s established importance.
In FY 2023, nearly $74 million in new FSCS grants were awarded, supporting 30 additional local educational agencies, nonprofits, and higher education institutions. This expansion reflects the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to scaling the full-service community school model, increasing its funding five-fold since 2020. These grants are projected to support 102 school districts, 292 schools, and over 229,000 students, providing critical services such as early learning opportunities and community violence intervention coordination.
The Impact of Full-Service Community Schools
The Full-Service Community Schools program represents a significant investment in a holistic, place-based strategy for improving educational outcomes. By integrating comprehensive academic, social, and health services, these schools are uniquely positioned to address the root causes of absenteeism and disengagement. This full-service approach ensures that students receive the multifaceted support they need to thrive, both inside and outside the classroom. Ultimately, by fostering stronger connections between schools, families, and communities, the FSCS program is building a foundation for long-term student success and community well-being.
