Bronx, NY (January 29, 2024) – Children’s Aid announced today it was named one of 30 grantees nationwide of a federal Full-Service Community Schools grant awarded by the Biden-Harris Administration and the U.S. Department of Education. The $2.5 million grant ($500,000 per year for five years) will support two South Bronx-based Children’s Aid community schools, Fairmont Neighborhood School and Samara Community School.

“Children’s Aid is grateful for this investment from the federal government,” said Phoebe Boyer, President and CEO at Children's Aid. “We know that this is a vote of confidence in our community schools work and the impact it has made for children and families.”

The South Bronx consistently ranks as the poorest community in New York State, and one of the poorest nationally. Ninety-four percent of students at Fairmont and 98% at Samara are economically disadvantaged, and many are newcomers to the country.

Ron Cope, Deputy Director of Bronx Community Schools at Children’s Aid, holds a clear vision for how this grant will accelerate student success. “The schools have strengths that include dedicated principals and Children’s Aid staff, and high levels of family trust,” Cope said. “I have no doubt that this team of committed individuals will ensure a successful transformation of Fairmont and Samara into full-service community schools.”

This funding will allow Children’s Aid to continue to offer academic enrichment programs, health services, afterschool and summer programming, family engagement strategies, and much more to give students the best opportunities to thrive in school and beyond.

As a pioneer of the community schools movement, Children’s Aid has deep experience implementing the strategy since launching its first community school in Washington Heights in 1992. Since 1994, Children’s Aid’s National Center for Community Schools has assisted many of the major community school initiatives across the country.

The center provides training, consultation, on-site coaching, and planning tools to assist educators, community leaders, policymakers, and funders in an ongoing collaboration that puts educational institutions at the center of community life.

“Our work has had worldwide impact with educators from 73 countries visiting New York and Children’s Aid to see the schools in action,” said Abe Fernández, Director of the National Center for Community Schools.

“We can’t stop here,” said Sarah Jonas, Vice President of Youth Programs at Children’s Aid. “Consistent investment is needed in community schools to meet the demand for high-quality education for young people across the state of New York, and nationwide.”

The Biden-Harris Administration has expanded Full-Service Community Schools five-fold, from $25 million in 2020 to $150 million in 2023. This year’s grantees will support 102 school districts, 292 schools, and 229,549 students. Children’s Aid is one of two New York-based grantees.

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Children’s Aid is committed to ensuring that there are no boundaries to the aspirations of young people, no limits to their potential. After nearly 200 years of serving New York City’s children, youth, and their families, we know what it takes to ensure children and youth grow up strong and healthy and ready to thrive in school and life: excellent education and health care, social-emotional support, and strong stable families. Today, we serve nearly 50,000 children, youth, and their families in New York City.