Call on Idaho's Congressional Delegates to Continue Funds for Community Schools!

This month, the U.S. Department of Education sent notification that they would be cutting off the 5-year Full-Service Community Schools (FSCS) State Scaling Grant early, on December 31, 2025. Ending the grant a full three years before its expected end date of December 31, 2028. The United Way of Treasure Valley applied for this grant in 2023 and since receiving this grant, has served 50 rural public schools across Idaho.

This funding is largely being pulled early due to claims of DEI-related training that was a required element of the grant when it was awarded under the Biden Administration. Since receiving this grant, no DEI-related training or activities have occurred, and none have been planned. However, the U.S. Department of Education has still pulled the funding due to claims of DEI.

The FSCS funding provides rural school districts in Idaho with:

Innovative support for literacy and STEM achievement, improved mental and physical health for students and school staff, increased opportunities for career-connected learning, and afterschool and summer enrichment programs.
A full-time, on-site community school coordinator who organizes community resources around student success.
Ongoing technical assistance to build long-term capacity and sustainability.

For those unfamiliar with Community Schools: Community schools are K-12 neighborhood public schools that listen to, and lead with, parents and community leaders to turn schools into vibrant hubs of community investment, unlocking the potential of every child in Idaho. By unlocking the abundance that already exists in communities, community schools generate an estimated $7–$15 in community value for every $1 invested. Upstream support for children and families prevents costly spending on healthcare, policing, and incarceration, and helps rural communities thrive.

If FSCS funding is cut off prematurely, important support in these Idaho communities would end abruptly:

American Falls School District

Caldwell School District

Cascade School District

Coeur d'Alene School District

Emmett School District

Garden Valley School District Genesee School District

Homedale School District

Jefferson School District

Jerome School District

Marsing School District

Middleton School District

Mountain Home School District

Nampa School District

Notus School District

Parma School District

Salmon River School District

Soda Springs School District

Teton School District

Wilder School District

Call on Idaho's Congressional Delegates to support the continuation of the funds today!

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Email Body

Dear {{legislator:role}}  {{contact:last_name}}, I am writing to request your support in addressing the early termination of Idaho’s Full-Service Community Schools (FSCS) State Scaling Grant, which currently supports 50 rural public schools across Idaho.The U.S. Department of Education has sent notice of immediate discontinuation of this 5-year federal grant awarded to the Idaho Coalition for Community Schools on December 31, 2025. The grant period originally awarded is January 1, 2024-December 31, 2028. Early discontinuance would immediately stop critical services for kids and families, three years earlier than anticipated. This grant is intended to provide a 5-year runway for our school district to support: - Literacy and STEM achievement - Mental and physical health supports for students - Career-connected learning, afterschool, and summer enrichment - A full-time, on-site Community School Coordinator who aligns community resources around student success - Ongoing technical assistance from the Idaho Coalition for Community Schools to ensure long-term sustainability  The basis for the grant non-continuation letter refers to DEI-related elements included in the original proposal. I want to clarify that: - This was a required component of the original application under the prior Presidential administration.  - In practice, all grant-funded work has been locally led by Idaho school districts, guided by parent voice and community leaders. - No DEI-related training or activities have occurred to date or are planned. - In fall 2025, the proposal was proactively amended by the Idaho Coalition for Community Schools to remove DEI references to better reflect the actual work being implemented in Idaho schools. Community Schools are locally driven, fiscally responsible, and effective. Across Idaho, 65 public schools serving more than 25,000 students have adopted this strategy. Research shows Community Schools generate $7–$15 in community value for every $1 invested. Community schools are a cornerstone strategy of the Western Idaho Community Health Collaborative community health implementation plan as a proven strategy to prevent costly downstream spending in healthcare, policing, and incarceration.  If this funding is cut off early, support would end abruptly in districts across Idaho, including American Falls School District, Caldwell School District, Cascade School District, Coeur d'Alene School District, Emmett School District, Garden Valley School District, Genesee School District, Homedale School District, Jefferson School District, Jerome School District, Marsing School District, Middleton School District, Mountain Home School District, Nampa School District, Notus School District, Parma School District, Salmon River School District, Soda Springs School District, Teton School District, and Wilder School District. I respectfully urge your office to support the continuation of Idaho’s FSCS State Scaling Grant as originally awarded, allowing schools to complete the work already underway for Idaho’s students, families, and rural communities. Thank you for your attention and continued support of Idaho public schools. {{contact:first_name}}  {{contact:last_name}} {{contact:street}}  {{contact:city}},  {{contact:state}}  {{contact:zip_code}}

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