A resolution designating the week of September 21 through September 25, 2020, as "Community School Coordinators Appreciation Week".

III 116TH CONGRESS 2D SESSION S. RES. 712 Designating the week of September 21 through September 25, 2020, as ‘‘Community School Coordinators Appreciation Week’’. IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES SEPTEMBER 22, 2020 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 RESOLUTION Designating the week of September 21 through September 25, 2020, as ‘‘Community School Coordinators Apprecia- tion Week’’. Whereas community schools marshal, align, and unite the as- sets, 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 in- cluded under section 4625 of the Elementary and Sec- ondary 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 opportuni- VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:46 Sep 23, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR712.IS SR712 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 2 •SRES 712 IS ties, and active family and community engagement and that use collaborative leadership and practices have posi- tive academic and nonacademic outcomes, including im- provements 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 ra- cial and economic achievement gaps, as indicated in a 2017 report; Whereas a 2020 study found that New York City’s commu- nity 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 be- tween $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 chil- dren, 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 VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:46 Sep 23, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR712.IS SR712 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 3 •SRES 712 IS academic, social, emotional, and health challenges for stu- dents, educators, and staff at community schools; Whereas community school coordinators have proven to be in- novative 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 behav- ioral 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 com- munity schools and their communities, with one study cit- ing a return of $7.11 for every dollar invested in the sal- ary 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 coordi- nators in the success of students: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate— 1 (1) designates the week of September 21 2 through September 25, 2020, as ‘‘Community 3 School Coordinators Appreciation Week’’; 4 (2) thanks community school coordinators for 5 the work they do to serve students, families, and 6 communities, especially as communities continue to 7 VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:46 Sep 23, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\SR712.IS SR712 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 4 •SRES 712 IS respond to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 pandemic; 1 and 2 (3) encourages students, parents, school admin- 3 istrators, and public officials to participate in virtual 4 events that celebrate Community School Coordina- 5 tors Appreciation Week. 6 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:46 Sep 23, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\SR712.IS SR712 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS