SENATE BILL 179

51st legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2013

INTRODUCED BY

Cisco McSorley

AN ACT

RELATING TO PUBLIC EDUCATION; ENACTING THE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS ACT.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

     SECTION 1. A new section of the Public School Code is enacted to read:

     "[NEW MATERIAL] SHORT TITLE.--This act may be cited as the "Community Schools Act"."

     SECTION 2. A new section of the Public School Code is enacted to read:

     "[NEW MATERIAL] PURPOSE.--The Community Schools Act is enacted to provide a strategy to organize the resources of a community to ensure student success while addressing the needs of the whole student; to partner federal, state and local entities with private community-based organizations to improve the coordination, delivery, effectiveness and efficiency of services provided to children and families, including wide-ranging school-based health care, extended learning hours and family engagement and support services and to coordinate resources, helping to align and leverage community resources and integrate funding streams." 

     SECTION 3. A new section of the Public School Code is enacted to read:

     "[NEW MATERIAL] COMMUNITY SCHOOLS INITIATIVES--SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT FUNCTIONS--REQUIREMENTS.--

          A. A community schools initiative may be created in any public school in the state.

          B. A community schools initiative shall include the following core set of services on site:

                (1) extended learning programs, including before- and after-school programs as well as summer programs;

                (2) school-based or school-linked health care; and

                (3) family engagement and support services.

          C. A community schools initiative shall include the following:

                (1) a lead partner agency, including but not limited to a public or private agency or community-based organization, to help coordinate programs and services;

                (2) an assessment of community resources informed by students, families and community and school leaders that relates to the effective delivery of core services on site; and

                (3) the establishment of an evaluation process that measures both the quality and quantity of outcomes."

     SECTION 4. A new section of the Public School Code is enacted to read:

     "[NEW MATERIAL] COMMUNITY SCHOOLS INITIATIVES--GRANTS--SCHOOL DISTRICT, GROUP OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS OR PUBLIC SCHOOL DUTIES--REQUIREMENTS.--

          A. Subject to the availability of funding, grants for community schools initiatives are available to a school district, a group of public schools or a public school that meets department eligibility requirements.

          B. Applications for grants for community schools initiatives shall be in the form prescribed by the department and shall include the following information:

                (1) a statement of need, including demographic and socioeconomic information about the area to be served by the community schools initiative;

                (2) goals and expected outcomes of the initiative;

                (3) services and activities to be provided by the initiative;

                (4) written agreements for the provision of services by public and private agencies, community groups and other parties;

                (5) a work plan and budget for the initiative, including staffing requirements and the expected availability of staff;

                (6) days and hours of operation;

                (7) strategies for dissemination of information about the initiative to potential users;

                (8) training and professional development plans;

                (9) letters of endorsement and commitment from community agencies and organizations and local governments; and

                (10) any other information the department requires.

          C. A school district, a group of public schools or a public school that uses funds under this section to transform a school into a research- and evidence-based community schools initiative shall:

                (1) use rigorous, transparent and equitable evaluation systems to assess the effectiveness of the implementation of the community schools initiative;

                (2) provide ongoing, high-quality professional development to staff that:

                     (a) aligns with the school‛s instructional program;

                     (b) facilitates effective teaching and learning; and

                     (c) supports the implementation of school reform strategies; and

                (3) give the school sufficient operational flexibility in programming, staffing, budgeting and scheduling so that the school can fully implement a comprehensive strategy designed to focus on improving school climate, student achievement and growth in reading and mathematics, attendance, behavior, parental engagement and, for high schools, graduation rates and readiness for college or a career."

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