Brown, Capito Introduce Resolution to Designate Community School Coordinators Appreciation Week

Full-Service Community Schools that Provide Integrated Student Supports have been shown to Improve Student Outcomes

WASHINGTON, DC — This week, U.S. Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) re-introduced a bipartisan resolution to designate the week of September 21 through September 25, 2020, as “Community School Coordinators Appreciation Week”.  Community schools are public schools that provide integrated student supports, well-designed and expanded learning opportunities, and active family and community engagement and that use collaborative leadership and practices. The resolution recognizes the role community school coordinators have in building and strengthening successful community schools and highlights the resiliency and impact of community school coordinators in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Representative Judy Chu (D-CA-27) will introduce companion legislation in the House of Representatives.

“Community schools offer unique opportunities to students in Ohio and across the country,” said Brown. “They make a real difference in the lives of students and their families. That’s why the work of community school coordinators is so important. Community schools are an efficient, evidence-based model for our public schools and I hope Congress will provide more resources so that local communities can adopt the model. Now more than ever, we must support our communities by investing in our public schools and helping them provide necessary financial, healthcare, and educational support to community schools serving children and families most affected by the pandemic. ”

“Community schools represent vital partnerships for our communities that are helping them to achieve success,” said Capito. “Community school coordinators are an essential element of that success, and this resolution is one way we can thank them for the work they do for our students, families, and communities.”

Along with Brown and Capito, the resolution was also co-sponsored by U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Richard Durbin (D-IL).

Community schools are public schools that provide integrated student supports, such as counseling, medical and dental services, and transportation are associated with improving student outcomes in areas such as attendance, social and emotional functioning, and academic achievement. Community school coordinators work with the community and non-profits to identify and source additional resources to benefit students and their families.

In July 2020, Brown led a letter to Senate leadership in support of additional dedicated funding for the Full-Service Community Schools program in the next COVID-19 relief package. The letter also asked to ensure the allowable uses for this additional funding remain flexible to provide essential resources for our public schools to meet the needs of students and families. The letter was also signed by Senators Van Hollen, Durbin, Sanders, and Booker.

Full text of the resolution is available here.