Increased opportunities for Full Service Community School grants this August

The Full Service Community School (FSCS) Grant is currently open with the initial intent to apply due August 12, 2022. These grants facilitate comprehensive systems of student support including engaging afterschool and summer programs. The announcement in the federal register was posted in July. Here are eight important things to note about this year’s competition:

1. The grant has more available funds than ever before. From an initial allocation in 2009 of $5 million, this year’s competition has $68 million available for grants.
2. Eligible applicants include a consortium of one or more local school districts (LEAs), or the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE), and one or more community-based organizations, non-profit organizations, or other public or private entities
3. Project services can be delivered before, during, and after regular school hours, and on-site and off-site. In fact the definition of a Full Service Community School in the education law (ESSA) is a public school that “participates in a community based effort to coordinate and integrate education, developmental, family, health and other comprehensive services through community based partnerships and provides access to such services  in schools to students, families and the community, such as access during the school year (including before and afterschool hours and weekends) as well as during the summer.”
4. There are four evidence based “pillars” to FSCS mentioned in the RFP, the second of which is “expanded and enriched learning time (e.g. after-school enrichment and summer school).”
5. This request for proposal offers opportunities for different types work, including five absolute priorities and two competitive preference priorities. Separate funding slates are available for different combinations of Absolute Priorities.
6. Statewide Afterschool Networks and other partners should make note of Absolute Priority 5, state scaling grants. These grants will help develop, support, and expand full service community school in the state involve commitment from the state education agency (SEA) and established a steering committee of stakeholders.
7. The two competitive priorities are focused on establishing inclusive settings through trusting relationships and providing multi-tiered systems of support to address in school and out-of-school barriers to student learning and development, and working through cross agency coordination and community involvement toward community violence prevention.
8. The Institute for Educational Leadership is poised to help including technical assistance and a weekly webinar series.

We know students benefit when they have access to a whole community of support, engaged and working together, elevating their needs and their voices, towards their success. We hope these grants offer increased opportunities for more programs to show the power of partnership. Reach out to us as well with any questions.