Schools could connect families with services and provide free meals

The proposal would provide competitive grants to help eligible groups plan, start, or expand full-service community schools. Eligible public schools must have at least 40% of students eligible for free or reduced-price meals, or be identified as needing added support. Eligible groups include school districts and community partners. Grant awards depend on available appropriations and an application approved by the Education Secretary. At least 80% of the program funds would support local community school grants; States could receive up to 15%, and technical assistance could use up to 5%. Planning grants could last up to 2 years; implementation grants would last 5 years. Expansion grants could last 3 to 5 years.

The proposal would make school breakfast and lunch free for all children at participating schools. The free meal provisions cover children enrolled in schools that participate in the breakfast or lunch program. Schools could not collect unpaid meal debt or shame or single out children over meal debt. The bill provides for reimbursement of existing meal debt after the specified effective date. Most school meal provisions would take effect one year after enactment. The ban on collecting meal debt and the ban on breakfast shaming would begin on enactment; debt reimbursement would follow the effective date stated in the bill.

The proposal would bar corporal punishment in federally funded school programs and allow families to bring civil cases over violations. The proposal covers students in federally funded school programs, including public school systems and certain other programs described in the bill. The ban covers school staff, law enforcement officers, and school security guards in programs receiving federal financial assistance. A private school that receives no federal support, directly or through a federally funded program, is excluded. Home schools are also excluded. No start date is stated for this provision.