Peoples-Stokes: Cuomo’s community schools proposal doesn’t go far enough

The 2016 legislative session is in full swing, and with that comes the opportunity to put New York families first. In his State of the State address, Gov. Andrew Cuomo proclaimed that New York is strong, and I couldn't agree more. His budget proposal aims to build upon successful initiatives, including a new proposal for community schools funding, which happens to be one of my legislative priorities.

Community schools help to alleviate problems facing low-income communities, such as access to healthy food, which directly impacts a student’s ability to learn, and access to quality health care and social services. These challenges at home and in students’ communities highlight the need for a stronger support system.

Community schools provide each student with a more holistic approach to education through collaboration and access to wrap-around services. Community schools are a win-win for working families and those struggling within the cycle of poverty. The proposal is cost-effective, bringing existing services and private entities to the schools where students are already located. Leveraging local, state, federal and private resources allows the community school model to reduce duplication of services.

The concentration of low-income families limits the time a family can spend together, as parents work more to offset low wages, increasing the need for services outside of traditional public school hours. Community schools are often open into the evenings and weekends. The community school model also increases availability to services ranging from counseling to Internet access. Community schools also lift the burden on working families of transporting children via mass transit. Reducing these expenses will, in turn, help create more pathways to the middle class.

In the 2015 legislative session, I introduced the Community Schools Act (A6791), which proposed a grant program to fund the planning, implementation, improvement and evaluation of community schools. While I was pleased to see that Gov. Cuomo put $100 million in his 2016 budget proposal to fund community schools, I do not believe it is enough and have requested that the amount be increased to $250 million. I believe the investment of $250 million will support the transformation of struggling schools and other at-risk schools into community schools so that issues of poverty can be addressed with communities working together to ensure that every student is prepared, safe, healthy and ready to learn.

I applaud Gov. Cuomo for highlighting this initiative in his budget proposal, as well asBuffalo Public Schools Superintendent Kriner Cash’s six-point plan, “The New Educational Bargain,” which also calls for funding of community schools. Education is the pathway to success, not just for those in poverty, but for the community as a whole.

I look forward to another great Caucus Weekend. This year’s theme of Restoring Faith & Justice: In Pursuit of Empowering our Communities is a great fit for 2016.

Crystal Peoples-Stokes is a New York state Assembly member representing Buffalo.