By Mary Velan
Gov1
What Happened?
Austin Voices for Education and Youth, a nonprofit in Texas, recently received a $2.5 million federal grant to build a family support center at Lanier High School. The funding was distributed through the U.S. Department of Education’s Full Service Community Schools grant program.
Goal
Austin Voices for Education and Youth will leverage the $2.5 million federal grant to increase social services offered at the high school as well as launch continuing education programs. Currently, the local nonprofit manages family support centers on five school campuses, each equipped with a licensed social work to run programs. Austin Voices for Education and Youth offers students and families in low-income communities with social services to strengthen community and economic development. The centers also offer a variety of continuing education opportunities such as employment, computer and English as a second language classes, The Austin Chronicle reported.
Austin Voices for Education and Youth is already using a $300,000 training grant from the Kellogg Foundation and funding from the Restore Rundberg initiative to help parents of at-risk students find the necessary resources to improve academic success, The Austin Chronicle reported.
What Are Full-Service Community Schools?
According to the Department of Education, full-service community schools offer a coordinated and integrated set of comprehensive academic, social and health services to students and their families. These services directly respond to the needs of students, families and community members in low-income neighborhoods. The goal of the program is to encourage the collaboration of academic, social and health services through partnerships with:
- Public elementary and secondary schools
- Local educational agencies
- Community-based organizations
- Nonprofit organizations
- Other public or private entities
The programs eligible for funding must be designed to improve educational outcomes for children through increased, coordinated social services on school campuses such as:
- High-quality early learning programs and service
- Remedial education aligned with academic supports and enrichment activities
- Comprehensive academic programs
- Family engagement including parental involvement, parent leadership, family literacy and parent education
- Mentoring and other youth development programs
- Community service and service learning opportunities
- Assistance to students who have been chronically absent, truant, suspended or expelled
- Job training and career counseling
- Nutrition services and physical activities
- Primary health and dental care
- Activities that improve access to and use of social service programs and financial stability resources
- Mental health services
- Adult education
- English as a second language education
The U.S. Department of Education has awarded nearly $6 million in Full-Service Community Schools grants to 12 organizations across 10 states.