The U.S. Department of Education is awarding Austin Voices for Education and Youth nearly $2.5 million to create community schools in AISD schools.

A new family resource center, to help stabilize and support at-risk families, will open at Lanier High School. The center will include family support services and a full range of adult education classes. The grant will also fund services and classes at Burnet Middle School and Cook and Wooldridge elementary schools.

What: AISD Superintendent Paul Cruz, AISD Trustees Ann Teich and Gina Hinojosa, and local school and community leaders will address attendees. Partner and community organizations, as well as parents and students, will be in attendance.

When: 11 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 16

Where: Lanier High School, 1201 Payton Gin Road

Background: Twelve organizations in 10 states are receiving Full-Service Community Schools grants. These grants encourage a coordinated and integrated set of comprehensive academic, social and health services.

The programs are intended to increase attendance and academic performance for students. The grant will also support community outreach and partner recruitment and coordination for after-school programs, mentoring, tutoring and parent engagement.

For more information about the Full Service Community Schools grant, please visit www2.ed.gov/programs/communityschools/index.html.

About Austin Voices: Austin Voices for Education and Youth mobilizes the community to improve public education and expand opportunities for students and families. AVEY works at 19 AISD campuses, supporting community-based school planning, creating young leaders, supporting families through six school-based family resource centers and working to support public schools through our statewide Save Texas Schools network.