HOUSE BILL 477

53rd legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2017

INTRODUCED BY

Jimmie C. Hall and Roberto "Bobby" J. Gonzales

AN ACT

RELATING TO PUBLIC EDUCATION; REQUIRING COMMUNITY SCHOOLS INITIATIVES TO INCLUDE AN INDEPENDENTLY EVALUATED, EVIDENCE-BASED OR RESULTS-BASED COMMUNITY SCHOOLS MODEL DESIGNED TO IMPROVE ACADEMIC OUTCOMES, INCREASE ATTENDANCE AND STRENGTHEN BEHAVIOR FOR ALL STUDENTS; MAKING AN APPROPRIATION.

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

     SECTION 1. Section 22-32-1 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2013, Chapter 16, Section 1) is amended to read:

     "22-32-1. SHORT TITLE.--[This act] Chapter 22, Article 32 NMSA 1978 may be cited as the "Community Schools Act"."

     SECTION 2. Section 22-32-3 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2013, Chapter 16, Section 3) is amended to read:

     "22-32-3. 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 [but not be limited to] the following core set of strategies and opportunities to strengthen behavior for all students:

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

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

                (3) family engagement and support services]

                (3) opportunities for families to acquire skills to promote early learning and childhood development;

                (4) school and community-resource partnerships with an integrated focus on academics and other social, health and familial support;

                (5) social, health, nutrition and mental health services and support for children, family members and community members; and

                (6) case management for students in need of comprehensive support in academics, attendance and behavior.

          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] implementation of an independently evaluated, evidence-based or results-based model of integrated student services and comprehensive supports that is proven to increase student achievement."

     SECTION 3. Section 22-32-4 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2013, Chapter 16, Section 4) is amended to read:

     "22-32-4. COMMUNITY SCHOOLS INITIATIVES--ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS--GRANTS--SCHOOL DISTRICT, GROUP OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS OR PUBLIC SCHOOL DUTIES--REQUIREMENTS.--

          A. A school district shall bear any administrative costs associated with the establishment and implementation of a community school within the school district.

          B. 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 has demonstrated partnerships with any lead agency and local, private and public agencies for the purpose of establishing, operating and sustaining community schools and that meets department eligibility requirements.

          C. 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.

          D. 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 and evidence-based 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."

     SECTION 4. APPROPRIATION.--Four hundred thousand dollars ($400,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the public education department for expenditure in fiscal year 2018 to implement the Community Schools Act. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2018 shall revert to the general fund.

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