Sponsors (15)
The bill channels significant federal funds and staff capacity toward full‑service community schools to improve student outcomes and family stability in high‑need communities, but it increases federal and local fiscal commitments, creates administrative and privacy burdens, and may leave some needy areas or programs without support due to eligibility and funding concentration choices.
Students in high-poverty and eligible schools will receive integrated, whole-child supports (expanded learning time, tutoring/mentoring, school-based mental health, nutrition, transportation) that improve attendance, readiness, and academic outcomes.
Families (parents/caregivers) gain easier access to coordinated social and economic supports (adult education, legal help, housing supports, workforce services), improving household stability and caregivers' ability to support students.
The bill provides sustained federal resources and technical assistance (ramping federal appropriations and state/district support) to help launch and scale full‑service community schools and systemwide planning.
Taxpayers and local governments may face substantial new and ongoing costs (increased federal spending, potential local/state sustainability needs after grants end) that could pressure other priorities or require offsets.
Tighter eligibility rules and funding concentration (e.g., ≥40% FRPL thresholds, heavy emphasis on Promise Neighborhoods) may leave some needy schools or communities ineligible and concentrate resources away from other deserving programs or areas.
Extensive grant administration, reporting, and data-collection requirements create administrative burden for LEAs, schools, and nonprofit partners and can divert staff time away from instruction and service delivery.
Based on analysis of 5 sections of legislative text.
Authorizes a competitive grant program to expand full‑service community schools and funds planning, implementation, and expansion grants with $500M–$1B authorized annually for FY2027–FY2031.
Official title: Improve the full-service community school program, and for other purposes.
Introduced May 12, 2026 by Christopher Van Hollen · Last progress May 12, 2026
Creates a new, large competitive grant program to expand full-service community schools across the country and authorizes dedicated annual funding from FY2027–FY2031. The bill adds definitions and program roles, sets priorities (high-need and rural districts, Tribal entities), prescribes planning, implementation, and expansion grant types and sizes, and requires data collection, reporting, and coordination with family and Tribal privacy/education law provisions. The program funds school-level community coordinators and partnerships to provide integrated supports (after‑school, health and mental health services, family engagement, mentoring, expanded learning time, and community leadership). It also preserves Promise Neighborhoods funding priorities and adjusts cross-references in existing ESEA grant authorities to direct funds to the new community‑school program.