In the near future, I plan to reintroduce Senate Bill 97, legislation to establish the Community Engaged Schools for Success program. The goal of the program is to better support the needs of our students by engaging community-based services into our schools.
 
During a Senate Education Committee public hearing in 2019, it was highlighted how several programs led by innovative and creative thinkers can have a tremendous impact on our students. The approach used by these schools connect students and their families with community-based organizations that address both academic and nonacademic barriers to learning. By providing these programs at the school, physical and behavioral health resources, in addition to basic needs such as food and clothing, can be provided to students quicker.
 
I would like to expand this success to more schools in this Commonwealth.  Specifically, this legislation creates a program, where schools can be designated as a Community Engaged School by the Secretary of Education. The school will then appoint a program manager to implement a community engagement plan and to serve as the point of contact to facilitate the relationship between the school and community.
 
It’s time to embrace more community involvement in our schools and provide opportunities for students to receive these community-based services.
 
Previous co-sponsors of this legislation were: Bartolotta, Phillips-Hill, Stefano, Schwank, Robinson, and Brooks.  
 
Please consider co-sponsoring this important piece of legislation.