On Jan. 18, The U.S. Department of Education announced $63 million in five-year grants to expand services in community schools — aiming to increase social, emotional, mental health, and academic support for students, educators, and families. 

The grants will support 42 local educational agencies, nonprofits, or other public or private organizations and institutions of higher education.  

As community schools provide services according to the needs of the students and families they serve, studies have found that, if well implemented, they can improve student and school outcomes — especially for students in under-resourced schools. 

The official statement from the department wrote that the investment is in alliance with the Biden-Harris Administration committed to “help America’s students grow academically and improve their well-being.”  

“I am thrilled that through the historic investment we’re announcing now, the Department is funding the largest cohort of grantees in the history of this grant program,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona. “This represents a huge step toward the Biden-Harris Administration’s goal of doubling the number of Full-Service Community Schools across the country and raising the bar for our support of children.”

According to the department, the awardees are committed to implementing important community schools pillars, such as: 

• Integrating student supports that address out-of-school barriers to learning through partnerships with social and health service agencies and providers; 
• Expanding and enriching learning time and opportunities;
• Having active family and community engagement; 
• Having collaborative leadership and practices; 

In Pennsylvania, two institutions will be awarded. Communities In Schools of Eastern Pennsylvania Inc will receive $500,000 in the first year, from the Capacity Building and Development Grant. For the same period of time, Communities in Schools Pittsburgh-Allegheny County will receive over 1,2 million from the Multi-District Grant.  

You can see the complete list of Full-Service Community Schools awardees here.