Community Schools and Health Equity Act

The Secretary of Education, in coordination with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, shall carry out a program under which the Secretary of Education makes grants to eligible entities, on a competitive basis, to support the implementation or expansion of school-based health services in community schools.

To be eligible to receive a grant under this section, an eligible entity shall submit to the Secretary of Education an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require.

An eligible entity that receives a grant under this section shall use the grant to carry out one or more of the following activities:

(1) Expanding or establishing school-based health services, including partnerships with Federally qualified health centers.

(2) Hiring and training personnel, including school nurses, mental health professionals, social workers, and community school coordinators.

(3) Providing wraparound services including nutrition assistance, housing support referrals, family engagement, and legal services.

(4) Supporting programs that address social determinants of health affecting students and families.

(5) Providing culturally and linguistically appropriate services for English learners and immigrant families.

(6) Supporting trauma-informed practices and crisis response services.

(7) Building partnerships with institutions of higher education to develop health career pathways for students.

In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary of Education shall give priority to eligible entities that—

(1) serve high concentrations of low-income students;

(2) serve a significant number of English learners or students from immigrant families;

(3) demonstrate unmet health or mental health needs among students;

(4) are located in medically underserved areas or health professional shortage areas; or

(5) propose to partner with Federally qualified health centers or public health agencies to carry out activities supported with the grant.

The Secretary of Education and the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall enter into a memorandum of understanding for purposes of coordinating the implementation of the grant program under this section. At a minimum, such memorandum shall provide for coordination between the Secretaries on—

(1) reducing the administrative burdens of implementing the program; and

(2) providing technical assistance to eligible entities.

On an annual basis for each year an eligible entity receives a grant under this section, the entity shall submit to the Secretary of Education a report on the activities carried out with the grant. Each report shall include, with respect to the year covered by the report—

(A) identification the number of students served by activities supported with the grant;

(B) a description of student outcomes related to health, attendance, and academic performance; and

(C) to the extent practicable, the information described in subparagraphs (A) and (B) and other relevant student data disaggregated by income, race, ethnicity, and English learner status.

Not later than three years after the date of enactment of this Act, and not less frequently than once every three years thereafter, the Secretary of Education shall submit to Congress a report on the grant program under this section. Each report shall include, with respect to the period covered by the report—

(A) an evaluation of the effectiveness of the program; and

(B) based on the results of the program, identification of any best practices or recommendations for improving coordination between the education and the health systems.

Nothing in this Act shall be construed to alter or supersede any Federal privacy protections, including section 444 of the General Education Provisions Act (20 U.S.C. 1232g; commonly known as the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974) and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (42 U.S.C. 201 et seq.).

In this section:

The term community school means a full-service community school (as defined in section 4622 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7272)).

The term eligible entity means—

(A) a local education agency;

(B) a consortium of local educational agencies; or

(C) a partnership between a local educational agency and one or more—

(i) community-based organizations;

(ii) Federally qualified health centers (as defined in section 1861(aa) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x));

(iii) public health agencies; or

(iv) institutions of higher education.

The term local educational agency has the meaning given that term in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).

The term school-based health services means comprehensive health services provided to students in a school setting, including primary care, mental health services, preventative services, and medical referrals.