Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE): Full-Service Community Schools (FCCS) Program Assistance Listing Number 84.215J | ED GRANTS 011521 002

Opportunity Information: Apply for ED GRANTS 011521 002

The Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE) Full-Service Community Schools (FSCS or FCCS) Program (Assistance Listing Number 84.215J) is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Education designed to help schools become hubs that bring together academics, health and social services, youth development, and family engagement in a more coordinated way. The core idea is to strengthen student outcomes by making it easier for children and families to access supports through the school, rather than forcing them to navigate multiple disconnected systems. The program is authorized under sections 4621-4623 and 4625 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA), as amended, and it places particular emphasis on serving children in high-poverty schools, including high-poverty rural schools.

This funding is intended to support the planning, implementation, and ongoing operation of full-service community schools. In practice, that means grantees use funds to build or expand partnerships among schools, local education agencies, community-based organizations, and other public or private service providers so services are better aligned and more effective. The notice highlights improvements in coordination, integration, accessibility, and effectiveness of services for children and families as the central outcomes the Department is seeking. While the short synopsis does not list specific allowable activities in detail, it signals that applications are expected to show how the community school approach will be organized, how partners will collaborate, and how the resulting pipeline of services will address barriers to learning and wellbeing for students and families.

A wide range of entities are eligible to apply. Eligible applicants include state, county, and city or township governments; special district governments; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; other Native American tribal organizations; nonprofit organizations (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3), excluding institutions of higher education); and certain other applicants as clarified in the official Federal Register notice. The opportunity is administered by the Department of Education and is categorized as an education grant under a discretionary funding instrument.

For this competition cycle, applications became available January 15, 2021, with a non-binding Notice of Intent to Apply due February 1, 2021. The deadline to submit applications was March 1, 2021, and the intergovernmental review deadline was April 30, 2021. The Department also planned to hold pre-application meetings via webinar for prospective applicants, with details posted on the FSCS program webpage. Applicants were directed to follow the Department of Education Common Instructions for Applicants to Discretionary Grant Programs (referenced as published February 13, 2019, 84 FR 3768), which typically covers required forms, submission procedures, and other cross-cutting application rules.

The award information provided in the synopsis indicates an expected 30 awards, with an award ceiling of $2,500,000 per grant. As with most federal discretionary programs, the synopsis repeatedly stresses that the Federal Register application notice is the controlling document. Applicants are instructed to rely on that official notice for the full set of requirements, including eligibility nuances, submission instructions, performance measures, any absolute or competitive priorities, and program contact details.

Program inquiries for this opportunity were directed to Elson Nash at the U.S. Department of Education, with contact information provided (phone: 202-260-2655; email: FSCS@ed.gov). The synopsis also points readers to the Federal Register and related government sites for official access to the notice and regulations, emphasizing that applicants should consult those sources for the complete and authoritative description of the competition.

• The Department of Education in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE): Full-Service Community Schools (FCCS) Program Assistance Listing Number 84.215J" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 84.215.
• This funding opportunity was created on Jan 15, 2021.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 01, 2021 Applications Available January 15, 2021. Deadline for Notice of Intent to Apply February 1, 2021. Date of Pre-Application Meetings The Department will hold pre-application meetings via webinars for prospective applicants. Detailed information regarding these webinars will be provided on the FSCS website at https://oese.ed.gov/#8203offices/#8203office-of-discretionary-grants-support-services/#8203school-choice-improvement-programs/#8203full-service-community-schools-programs/#8203. Deadline for Transmittal of Applications March 1, 2021. Deadline for Intergovernmental Review April 30, 2021. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT Elson Nash, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, room 4E246, Washington, DC 20202. Telephone (202) 260-2655. Email FSCS@ed.gov.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $2,500,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 30 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

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