Tulare County’s Cutler-Orosi Joint Unified School District will receive a five-year federal grant to start and sustain a community school. The district’s first-year funding is $3 million.

The U.S. Department of Education announced nearly $74 million for new full-service community schools Tuesday morning in a news release.

Community schools help students beyond education by including health and nutrition services.

Cutler-Orosi has 3,892 students, about 40% of whom are English language learners, according to the California Department of Education.

Oakland Promise and National University also were awarded five-year grants.

“These new investments support what I’ve heard from parents and families across the country,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona in a statement. “Additional funding will deepen community partnerships and connect children and families to vital resources that meet their holistic needs.

“We know that comprehensive, wrap-around approaches – including nutrition assistance; mental health services; early childhood education; and access to high-quality afterschool summer learning and enrichment programs – all are crucial for accelerating our students’ academic success and their recovery from the pandemic by helping them thrive both inside and outside of school.”

Research indicates that positive learning environments where students receive key services — including nutritional, dental, vision, and mental health services — are critical for accelerating academic recovery.