Communities In Schools ® Commends Congress for Funding Education Programs that Empower All Students to Succeed in School
Arlington, Va. - Dec. 19, 2019 - This week Congress passed a budget that made historic investments in programs that serve at-risk youth. Communities In Schools® (CIS), the nation’s largest organization dedicated to empowering all students to succeed in school and life, commended Congress for increasing appropriations funding for programs that support student success.
New funding levels include $16.3 billion for Title I, the country’s largest federal education funding for low-income children. Title IV, Part B, 21st Century Community Learning Centers, which is primarily used for out-of-school time programming, is also funded at $1.25 billion - the largest appropriation ever for this program. AmeriCorps state and national grants received a $3.5 million increase, for a total of $428.5 million.
The legislation also includes an increase of $40 million for the Student Support and Academic Enrichment (SSAE) grant program, authorized under Title IV, Part A of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).
Communities In Schools ® Vice President of Policy Tiffany Miller said, “We are thankful that lawmakers have once again recognized the importance of this flexible funding stream, which will allow districts to build on their investments to support a whole child approach to school improvement.”
Together, these funding increases will collectively boost the power of districts and schools to provide much needed educational supports, including integrated student supports. A 2017 Child Trends review proved that high-quality integrated student supports can, among other things, improve average daily attendance, raise the on-time graduation rate, improve school climate, develop social emotional competencies, and improve math achievement and overall GPA.
Communities In Schools® President and CEO Dale Erquiaga added, “These increases in funding are wins for the 1.6 million students CIS serves in over 2,500 schools across the country. It sets an important new precedent for funding levels of these important programs.”
About Communities In Schools
Communities In Schools (CIS) is a national organization that ensures all students have what they need to stay in school and on a path to a brighter future. Working directly inside more than 2,500 schools and community sites across the country, we connect kids to caring adults and community resources designed to help them succeed in school and life. With a proven mix of evidence-based practice and human capital, we do whatever it takes to empower kids to realize their full potential.