President Biden Releases 2025 Federal Budget Proposal

Once again, the Administration has made recommendations in their FY 2025 proposed budget request that are favorable for integrated student supports (ISS), support academic recovery and seek to help sustain the funding that was made available as part of the American Rescue Plan. 

While the budget did not propose a dedicated, federal ISS competitive grant program within the Full Service Community Schools (FSCS) Grant, it did callout the importance of integrated student supports particularly within the FSCS Grant. 

The Department would dedicate a significant amount of funding in year 2025 to provide catalytic support for planning and capacity building of services—such as integrated student supports—for traditionally underserved students such as students of color, newly arrived students, and students from low-income backgrounds. 

While the Department acknowledges each of the four pillars of a community school plays a critical role in delivering benefits of the model, efforts to increase investments in the planning stage will allow for new and less experienced grantees to develop community schools designed to meet the urgent needs of local communities.

In addition to an increase in FSCS grant funding, the overall budget proposes $82.4 billion in discretionary funds. This includes a $200 million increase for Title 1 and a $1.38 billion increase for Title IV-Part A, including $10 million for fostering diverse schools; all public funding sources that are and can be used to support integrated student supports.

Additionally under Title IV-Part A, there is a new proposed $8 billion program for grants under Title IV-A to address learning recovery, including summer and afterschool programs, particularly in high poverty areas. Carrying forward efforts funded by the American Rescue Plan, these grants to school districts would support evidence-based strategies to increase school attendance, provide high-quality tutoring, and expand learning time, including both in the summer and in extended day or afterschool programs. 

Communities In Schools thanks the Biden Administration for their continued support of integrated student supports and community schools.