December 11, 2015

Manchin, Hoyer, Scott, Brown Statement on Every Student Succeeds Act Being Signed into Law

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH), and House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD), Committee on Education and the Workforce Ranking Member Bobby Scott (D-VA) released the following statements after President Obama signed the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) into law at a White House signing ceremony today. The bipartisan bill includes the Community Support for School Success program which establishes annual grant funding for the Full-Service Community Schools (FSCS) program. The Full-Service Community Schools model co-locates education and critical services, such as health and dental care, mental health services, and adult education and job training, in one place. By integrating and coordinating education and the delivery of social services, students are better prepared to succeed at school, and parents are able to support their children’s learning. Senators Manchin and Brown sponsored the FSCS amendment in the Senate, while Whip Hoyer has introduced the Full-Service Community Schools Act every Congress since 2004.

“Far too many communities and families in West Virginia and in this country are facing complex challenges that impact the ability of our children to focus, learn and succeed in the classroom,” Senator Joe Manchin said. “Community schools, like Reconnecting McDowell, give our students a chance to succeed by providing the necessary comprehensive and coordinated services that help our students and families overcome multifaceted challenges. I am pleased that funding to support Full-Service Community Schools has been included in the final education bill being signed into law today.”

“The signing into law of the Every Student Succeeds Act today represents a significant victory for students and their families,” stated Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer. “I am proud that this legislation includes the full-service community schools model that I have supported for years. This model helps close the achievement gap by ensuring that our students have access to the resources they need so they can succeed in school, and I’m hopeful that this new law will help expand this model across the country. I want to thank Chairman John Kline and Ranking Member Bobby Scott, along with Senator Sherrod Brown and Senator Joe Manchin, for their leadership in ensuring full-service community schools were included in this bipartisan legislation.”

“We know that when the community is engaged in a school's success, students reap the benefits,” said Education and the Workforce Ranking Member Bobby Scott. “The community school model is one that works and one that should be replicated to serve low-income students across the country. The ESSA will assist more schools in more communities to harness shared resources to support student achievement and school success.”

“Challenges at home can undermine classroom performance and leave students struggling to keep up,” Senator Sherrod Brown said. “Community schools have a proven track record of connecting student and their families to critical services. By expanding this model, more students will be able to access essential resources like medical care and after-school care. This will ensure that students can focus their attention on succeeding in school.”

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