[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 164 (Tuesday, September 22, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Page S5792]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  SENATE RESOLUTION 712--DESIGNATING THE WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 21 THROUGH 
  SEPTEMBER 25, 2020, AS ``COMMUNITY SCHOOL COORDINATORS APPRECIATION 
                                 WEEK''

  Mr. BROWN (for himself, Mrs. Capito, Mr. Van Hollen, and Mr. Durbin) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
on the Judiciary:

                              S. Res. 712

       Whereas community schools marshal, align, and unite the 
     assets, resources, and capacity of schools and communities 
     for the success of students, families, and communities;
       Whereas community schools are an effective, evidence-based, 
     and equity-driven strategy for school improvement included 
     under section 4625 of the Elementary and Secondary Education 
     Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7275), as added by section 4601 of the 
     Every Student Succeeds Act (Public Law 114-95; 129 Stat. 
     2029);
       Whereas community 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 have positive academic 
     and nonacademic outcomes, including improvements in student 
     attendance, behavior, academic achievement, school readiness, 
     and mental and physical health, high school graduation rates, 
     and school climate and reduced racial and economic 
     achievement gaps;
       Whereas community schools have the potential for closing 
     racial and economic achievement gaps, as indicated in a 2017 
     report;
       Whereas a 2020 study found that New York City's community 
     schools had a positive impact on student attendance, on-time 
     grade progression, and credit accumulation for high school 
     students;
       Whereas community schools provide a strong social return on 
     investment, with one study citing a social return of between 
     $10 to $15 for every dollar invested over a 3-year period;
       Whereas community school coordinators are essential to 
     building successful community schools and creating, 
     strengthening, and maintaining partnerships between community 
     schools and their communities;
       Whereas community school coordinators facilitate and 
     provide leadership for the collaborative process and 
     development of a continuum of supports and opportunities for 
     children, families, and others within a school's community 
     that allow all students to learn and the community to thrive;
       Whereas the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (referred to in this 
     preamble as ``COVID-19'') pandemic poses additional academic, 
     social, emotional, and health challenges for students, 
     educators, and staff at community schools;
       Whereas community school coordinators have proven to be 
     innovative and resourceful in response to the COVID-19 
     pandemic, including through organizing volunteers for mobile 
     food pantries, hosting virtual parent hangouts and student 
     lunch groups, continuing to support onsite behavioral health 
     programs through an online platform, and participating in 
     advocacy efforts to halt eviction orders in their 
     communities;
       Whereas community school coordinators, through their role, 
     deliver a strong monetary return on investment for community 
     schools and their communities, with one study citing a return 
     of $7.11 for every dollar invested in the salary of a 
     community school coordinator; and
       Whereas Community School Coordinators Appreciation Week, 
     celebrated from September 21 through September 25, 2020, 
     recognizes, raises awareness of, and celebrates the thousands 
     of community school coordinators across the country and the 
     critical role of community school coordinators in the success 
     of students: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates the week of September 21 through September 
     25, 2020, as ``Community School Coordinators Appreciation 
     Week'';
       (2) thanks community school coordinators for the work they 
     do to serve students, families, and communities, especially 
     as communities continue to respond to the Coronavirus Disease 
     2019 pandemic; and
       (3) encourages students, parents, school administrators, 
     and public officials to participate in virtual events that 
     celebrate Community School Coordinators Appreciation Week.

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