Van Hollen, Colleagues Introduce Resolution to Designate Community School Coordinators Appreciation Week

U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) introduced a resolution to designate September 14 through 20, 2025 as Community School Coordinators Appreciation Week to recognize the important role that Community School Coordinators and full-service community schools play in students' education and well-being. Senator Van Hollen was joined in introducing the resolution by U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.). Representative Judy Chu (D-Calif.) will introduce companion legislation in the House of Representatives.

Community schools are public schools that provide integrated student support systems, such as counseling, medical and dental services, and transportation. They also offer well-designed and expanded learning opportunities and active family and community engagement. Community school coordinators work with the community and non-profits to identify and source additional resources to benefit students and their families. The resolution recognizes the role community school coordinators play in helping students succeed in their academic years and beyond. There are more than 700 community schools serving students across all 24 of Maryland's school districts.

"Community school coordinators dedicate themselves to helping meet children's needs both in and outside of the classroom. I'm grateful for their tireless efforts to foster the success of students and families across this country, which is why I'm proud to recognize their hard work with this resolution. Our local community schools are valued partners, and we should support their mission - along with those they serve - to help bring greater opportunity to our students and families," said Senator Van Hollen.

"Community schools create holistic, supportive learning environments for students while building relationships with their families and the surrounding communities," said Senator Hirono. "I've visited community schools in Hawaii and seen firsthand the essential role community school coordinators play in ensuring the success of these schools. As we recognize Community School Coordinators Appreciation Week, I'm proud to join my colleagues in thanking the hard work and dedication of these coordinators, as they help to enable the provision of important resources to children across the country."

The full text of the resolution is available here.

Senator Van Hollen has also championed legislation to promote greater adoption of the full-service community school model nationwide, partnering with then-Senator Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) on the Full-Service Community School Expansion Act. Among other provisions, this legislation invests in supporting successful community schools and establishing new ones to serve more students, families, and communities across the US.