On behalf of the Coalition for Community Schools, the Institute for Educational Leadership (IEL) applauds the U.S. Department of Education’s announcement that it has awarded a diverse group of 42 new Full-Service Community School grantees.

The Department of Education launched its latest Full Service Community Schools (FSCS) Grant Competition in Summer 2022, and the Coalition for Community Schools team sprang into action to raise visibility and to provide direct assistance to help increase the number of places applying. The $68 million available through the grant will expand Community Schools work in new places and grow it in others.

The 42 newest grantees join a growing list of others that have been awarded since 2008, representing over 100 places across the country implementing networks of Community Schools.

“We are thrilled to see so many of our partner organizations and communities be awarded this funding to start or expand their Community Schools, adding to the evidence of Community Schools as an equity-driven strategy for transforming education,” said Jose Munoz, Director of the Coalition for Community Schools at IEL. “The diversity of the places and states who applied for this grant, along with another historic allocation of $150 million in the FY23 spending bill, exemplifies Community Schools as a nonpartisan, common sense strategy to build stronger communities across America.” 

IEL looks forward to welcoming and congratulating the newest grantees to the Coalition for Community Schools and to hosting an enriching learning experience with many of them at the 2023 National Community Schools and Family Engagement Conference this June in Philadelphia, PA.