Amended in Assembly April 23, 2013

California Legislature—2013–14 Regular Session

Assembly Bill No. 1178

Introduced by Assembly Member Bocanegra

February 22, 2013

An act to add Chapter 18.5 (commencing with Section 11750) to Part 7 of Division 1 of Title 1 of the Education Code, relating to pupil instruction.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

AB 1178, as amended, Bocanegra. Pupil instruction: California Promise Neighborhood Initiative.

Existing law establishes a system of public elementary and secondary schools in this state, and authorizes local educational agencies throughout the state to operate schools and provide instruction to pupils in kindergarten and grades 1 to 12, inclusive. Existing law also establishes a system of postsecondary education in the state that consists of 4 segments: the University of California, the California State University, the California Community Colleges, and independent institutions of higher education.

This bill would express findings and declarations of the Legislature about, among other things, the educational, cultural, and health needs of California’s most distressed communities. The bill would establish the California Promise Neighborhood Initiative to develop a system of 40 California promise neighborhoods throughout the state to support children’s development. begin insert The bill would, commencing in July 2014, require the State Department of Education to develop an application process for eligible entities to apply for sites to become promise neighborhoods. end insert The bill would require the State Department of Education to designate the 40 California promise neighborhoods by January 1, 2016, and would specify that the promise neighborhoods would be selected from areas that voluntarily apply, as prescribed, for that designation. The bill would specify items that would be required to be included in an application to be designated as a California promise neighborhood. The bill would specify the services to be provided to the participating neighborhoods. The bill would also begin delete specify information to be annually reported to the State Department of Education by designated California promise neighborhoods. end delete begin insert require promise neighborhood designees to undergo a performance reviewevery 3 years conducted by the State Department of Education and the community served by the promise neighborhood. end insert

Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.  

Chapter 18.5 (commencing with Section 11750)
is added to Part 7 of Division 1 of Title 1 of the Education Code,
to read:

 

Chapter  18.5. California Promise Neighborhood
Initiative

 

Article 1.  Findings and General Provisions

 

11750.  

The Legislature hereby finds and declares all of the
following:

(a) All children throughout California, regardless of their
families’ socioeconomic, English learning, or special education
status, or the neighborhoods in which they reside, deserve access
to a high-quality education, health services, and social services
that will prepare them to succeed in college and in their careers,
and that will allow them to become productive citizens contributing
to the wealth of our cities, state, and nation.

(b) Many children living in California’s most distressed
communities lack access to opportunities that will ensure adequate
academic, social, and health preparation for achieving success and
helping to end family and neighborhood poverty.

(c) Innovative and comprehensive approaches to break the cycle
of poverty are necessary for creating opportunities for children to
succeed and ultimately to help turn around poor neighborhoods.

(d) Long-term investments in underserved children’s academic,
social, and health development and the strengthening of a system
of family and community support shared by various stakeholders
are also needed to sustain the future of our communities.

(e) The Harlem Children’s Zone in New York has demonstrated
the lasting benefits of developing a network of support services to
revitalize an entire community focusing on the social, health, and
educational development of children.

(f) The Federal Promise Neighborhood Initiative, inspired by
the Harlem Children’s Zone, seeks to develop a cradle-to-career
pipeline of support services in specific neighborhoods that will
transform communities.

(g) Out of more than 50 communities in California that applied
for the Federal Promise Neighborhood Initiative grant, begin delete 12 end delete begin insert eight end insert
communities in California were selected to receive planning or
implementation grants.

(h) Many of the communities that were not selected by the
federal government continue to work on developing community
plans because cross-community planning provides lasting benefits
in aligning and maximizing resources in a community.

(i) Establishing a network of services to serve specific families
breaks down many unnecessary barriers in the effective delivery
of programs and services.

(j) The alignment of local, state, and federal resources can
maximize existing dollars and better serve specific communities.

(k) Central to the development of the Harlem Children’s Zone
and the Federal Promise Neighborhood Initiative has been the use
of data to drive real-time decisionmaking and program
improvement.

11751.  

(a) The California Promise Neighborhood Initiative is
hereby established to develop a system of 40
begin delete “promise”neighborhoods end delete begin insert “promise neighborhoods” end insert throughout
California to support children’s development from cradle to career.
Participation in this initiative is voluntary.

(b) The purpose of the California Promise Neighborhood
Initiative is to significantly improve the outcomes and opportunities
for children and their families living in California’s most distressed
neighborhoods and to transform those communities. By using
results-driven accountability and leveraging federal, state, local,
and private resources, the state will seek to provide children and
their families in these neighborhoods with access to a
community-based continuum of high-quality services and practices
based on the best available evidence, which will address the needs
of children from birth through college and career.

(c)  begin insert Commencing in July 2014, the department shall develop an
application process for eligible entities to apply for sites to become
promise neighborhoods pursuant to this article. end insert The department
shall designate 40 California promise neighborhoods by January
1, 2016, selecting from applicants that meet eligibility criteria, and
have demonstrated that they will implement a comprehensive,
integrated continuum of solutions or pipeline of services based on
the best available evidence to improve academic achievement,
including early childhood programs, child and youth social and
health development, college and career readiness, and efforts to
build strong family and community supports measured by common
outcomes in neighborhoods with high concentrations of
low-income families, persistently low-achieving schools, or schools
with an achievement gap.

begin insert

(d) A designee is responsible for, and shall be measured by the
department for, all of the following common outcomes:

end insert begin insert

(1) Children enter kindergarten ready to succeed in school.

end insert begin insert

(2) Pupils are proficient in core academic subjects.

end insert begin insert

(3) Pupils successfully transition from middle school grades to
high school.

end insert begin insert

(4) Pupils graduate from high school.

end insert begin insert

(5) High school graduates obtain a postsecondary degree,
certification, or credential.

end insert begin insert

(6) Pupils are healthy.

end insert begin insert

(7) Pupils feel safe at school and in their community.

end insert begin insert

(8) Pupils live in stable communities.

end insert begin insert

(9) Families and community members support learning in
promise neighborhood schools.

end insert begin insert

(10) Pupils have access to 21st century learning tools.

end insert begin delete

(d)

end delete

begin insert (e) end insert  The department shall begin the California Promise
Neighborhood Initiative selection process by begin delete including the existing
and federally recognized promise neighborhoods. end delete begin insert guaranteeing
eligibility for the federally recognizedcommunities in California
receiving either planning or implementation grants. end insert

11752.  

As used in this chapter:

(a) A “California promise neighborhood” is a specific
geographic area that represents a community focused on
revitalization through the establishment of a cradle-to-career
network of services aimed at improving the health, safety,
education, and economic development of the defined area.

(b) An “eligible applicant” is any of the following:

(1) A nonprofit organization, including a faith-based
organization to the extent permitted by law.

(2) An institution of higher education.

(3) An Indian tribe or tribal organization, serving as a lead
agency representative of the proposed geographic area to be served
and in partnership with at least one public elementary or secondary
school, traditional or charter, located within the identified
geographic begin delete area that the grant applied for would serve. end delete begin insert area. end insert

 

Article 2.  Program Provisions

 

11753.  

(a) The department shall work with the Employment
Development Department, the California Health and Human
Services Agency, the Business, Transportation and Housing
Agency, the California Children and Families Commission, the
California Community Colleges, the California State University,
the University of California, the Student Aid Commission, the
Department of Parks and Recreation, and other agencies and
departments selected by the Governor to implement this chapter.

begin delete

(b) Commencing no later than July 1, 2014, the department shall
develop an application process for eligible entities to apply for
sites to become California promise neighborhoods.

end delete begin insert

(b) The department shall work with the entities listed in
subdivision (a) to identify programs and opportunities for grants
suitable for prioritization and granting of bonus points in promise
neighborhoods.

end insert

(c) For purposes of implementing this chapter, the department
may use existing available state resources and federal funds. If
state or federal funds are not available or sufficient, the department
may apply for and accept grants and receive donations and other
financial support from public or private sources for purposes of
this chapter.

begin insert

(d) It is the intent of the Legislature to encourage the Governor
to give a high priority to California promise neighborhoods in the
expenditure of discretionary federal workforce investment funds.

end insert

11754.  

(a) The department shall work with the California
Health and Human Services Agency and county health and human
services agencies to ensure, to the extent feasible, the maximum
participation of eligible populations within California promise
neighborhoods in the following programs:

(1) The CalFresh program pursuant to Chapter 10 (commencing
with Section 18900) of Part 6 of Division 9 of the Welfare and
Institutions Code.

(2) The Medi-Cal program pursuant to Chapter 7 (commencing
with Section 14000) of Part 3 of Division 9 of the Welfare and
Institutions Code.

(b) The department shall begin insert end insert begin insert have a participation goal of 90 percent,
and, beginning January 1, 2016, the department shall end insert post
participation rates for these begin delete areas and establish a goal of 90 percent
participation by January 1, 2016. end delete begin insert areas. end insert The department shall
explore different methods of increasing participation, including,
but not necessarily limited to, a universal application and electronic
data sharing with schools and school districts.

11755.  

The department shall work with the California Children
and Families Commission (First 5 Commission), established
pursuant to Division 108 (commencing with Section 130100) of
the Health and Safety Code, to ensure that, to the extent feasible,
begin delete children and families end delete begin insert eligible applicants end insert residing within California
promise neighborhoods receive begin delete maximum end delete begin insert bonus points, additional
recognition, or weighted end insert consideration for receiving funding for
competitive grants administered by that commission.

11756.  

(a) The department shall work with the California
Community Colleges, the California State University, the
University of California, the Student Aid Commission, and the
California Postsecondary Education Commission to ensure that,
to the extent feasible, begin delete children and families end delete begin insert eligible applicants end insert
residing within California promise neighborhoods receive
begin delete maximum end delete begin insert bonus points, additional recognition, or weighted end insert
consideration, to the extent feasible, when applying for funding
for competitive grants.

(b)  begin delete Schools and end delete begin insert Schools, end insert school districts begin insert , and institutions of
higher education end insert within California promise neighborhoods shall,
at a minimum, begin delete receive maximum end delete begin insert for purposes of meeting the
shared outcomes of the promise neighborhood initiative, to the
extent not in conflict with federal law or with an initiative measure,
receive bonus points, additional recognition, or weighted end insert
consideration for receiving funding for the following competitive
grants:

(1) The After School Education and Safety Program established
pursuant to Section 8482.

(2) A California Partnership Academy established pursuant to
Article 5 (commencing with Section 54690) of Chapter 9 of Part
29 of Division 4 of Title 2.

(3) The Immediate Intervention-Underperforming Schools
Program established pursuant to Section 52053.

(4) Career technical education pathways grants pursuant to
Section 88532.

begin insert

(5) School improvement grants, to the extent that a school within
a promise neighborhood is presently low achieving and is eligible
for Title 1 funding pursuant to Chapter 70 (commencing with
Section 6301) of Title 20 of the United States Code.

end insert

11757.  

begin delete (a) end delete begin delete   end delete The department shall work with the Employment
Development Department, the California Workforce Investment
Board, and the Employment Training Panel to ensure that, to the
extent feasible, begin delete children and families end delete begin insert eligible applicants end insert residing
within California promise neighborhoods receive begin delete maximum end delete begin insert bonus
points, additional recognition, or weighted end insert consideration for
receiving funding for competitive grants.

begin delete

(b) Cities and counties in which California promise
neighborhoods are located shall, to the extent feasible, receive
priority in the following programs and grants:

end delete begin delete

(1) Programs of the Employment Training Panel established
pursuant to Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 10200) of Part
1 of Division 3 of the Unemployment Insurance Code.

end delete begin delete

(2) Workforce development solicitations for proposals.

end delete

11758.  

(a) The department shall work with the Department of
Parks and Recreation to ensure that begin delete children and families end delete begin insert end insert begin insert eligible
applicants end insert residing within California promise neighborhoods
receive, to the extent feasible, begin delete maximum end delete begin insert bonus points, additional
recognition, or weighted end insert consideration for receiving funding for
competitive grants.

begin insert

(b) Cities and counties in which California promise
neighborhoods are located shall, with the support of the promise
neighborhoods, demonstrate that multiple sources of block grant
assistance are being coordinated and invested in support of the
planning, implementation, and long-term results of their promise
neighborhood program.

end insert begin delete

(b)

end delete

begin insert (c) end insert  Cities and counties in which California promise
neighborhoods are located shall receive, to the extent feasible,
begin delete maximum end delete begin insert bonus points, additional recognition, or weighted end insert
consideration for funding for the creation of new parks and
recreation activities in underserved communities.

11759.  

(a) For purposes of receiving a California promise
neighborhood designation, an eligible applicant shall submit an
application to the department at a time, in the manner, and
containing the information, the department may require.

(b) An eligible applicant shall submit a description of the
geographically defined area or neighborhood to be served and the
level of distress in that area based on indicators of need and other
relevant indicators.

(c) In order for an area to apply, the geographic area of the
proposed California promise neighborhood shall meet all of the
following minimum criteria:

(1) Contain a designated high school or schools and feeder
begin delete schools. end delete begin insert schools that use a transformation model that includes,
but is not necessarily limited to, full-service community schools,
charter schools, turnaround schools as defined by the federal
government, and career pathways. end insert

begin delete

(2) Have high poverty rates.

end delete begin insert

(2) Contain a high school with a graduation rate below 70
percent.

end insert begin delete

(3) Have high unemployment.

end delete begin insert

(3) Have unemployment rates higher than the state as a whole.

end insert begin delete

(4) Have low high school graduation rates.

end delete begin insert

(4) Have more than 25 percent of households with annual
incomes below twenty-two thousand dollars ($22,000).

end insert

(d) An eligible applicant, at a minimum, shall include the
following partners as part of its application:

(1) Other community organizations.

(2) Child development organizations.

(3) Schools or school districts.

(4) Postsecondary educational institutions.

(5) City and county governments.

(6) Representatives of local business and industry.

(e) An eligible applicant shall submit a preliminary
memorandum of understanding, signed by representatives of each
partner entity or begin delete agency. end delete begin insert agency that includes, but is not necessarily
limited to, all of the following: end insert

begin insert

(1) Each partner’s commitment and contribution toward
achieving each common outcome at population level.

end insert begin insert

(2) Each partner’s financial and programmatic commitment
with respect to the strategies described in the application, including
an identification of the fiscal agent.

end insert begin insert

(3) The governance structure proposed for the promise
neighborhood, including a system for how the eligible applicant
will hold partners accountable, the representation of geographical
areas on the eligible applicant’s governing and advisory boards,
and resident engagement from the neighborhood in the
organization’s decisionmaking process.

end insert begin insert

(4) Each partner’s long-term commitment to providing pipeline
services that, at a minimum, account for the cost of supporting the
pipeline, including the period after grant funds are no longer
available, and potential changes in local government.

end insert begin insert

(5) Each partner’s mission and plan that will govern the work
that partners do together.

end insert begin insert

(6) Each partner’s long-term commitment to supporting the
pipeline through data collection, monitoring, reporting, and
sharing.

end insert begin insert

(7) Each partner’s commitment to ensure sound fiscal
management and controls, including evidence of a system of
supports and personnel.

end insert

(f) Eligible applicants shall submit a description of a plan to
significantly improve the academic, health, and social outcomes
of children living in an identified neighborhood and to support the
healthy development and well-being of children and youth in the
neighborhood by providing a continuum of solutions to address
the neighborhood’s needs. The continuum of solutions proposed
by the eligible applicant shall be based on the best information
available to the applicant.

(g) An eligible applicant shall submit an analysis of community
assets within, or accessible to, the neighborhood, including, at a
minimum, a description of all of the following:

(1) Early learning programs and network, including home
visiting, high-quality child care, Early Head Start programs, Head
Start programs, and prekindergarten programs.

(2) Community centers, after school programs, and other
opportunities for out-of-school activities.

(3) Transportation resources.

(4) Parks and recreational facilities.

(5) Available healthy food options and opportunities for physical
activity.

(6) Existing family and student support organizations.

(7) Businesses and employers located in the community.

(8) Postsecondary educational institutions located in or near the
community.

(h) A description of the process by which to develop, launch,
and implement a longitudinal data system that integrates
student-level data from multiple sources to measure progress on
educational and family and community support indicators for all
children in the neighborhood.

begin insert

(i) Any funding received as a result of the promise neighborhood
designation shall only be used for the development of the promise
neighborhood common outcomes.

end insert begin insert

(j) (1) As used in this chapter, “full-service community school”
means a school that aligns the efforts and resources of school
leaders, public agencies, and community partners to create safe,
healthy, and supportive schools that provide equitable
opportunities for all children and youth to develop the skills needed
for healthy and successful transitions to college, careers, and
life-long learning. The principles of equity and academic excellence
drive the full-service community school to meet the needs of all
pupils, including, and most especially, those pupils identified as
vulnerable to social disconnection and dropping out of school.

end insert begin insert

(2) (A) The core elements of a full-service community school
include, but are not necessarily limited to, all of the following:

end insert begin insert

(i) A high-quality education plan that attends to the full range
of 21st century skills, including core subjects and themes such as
both of the following:

end insert begin insert

(I) Civics, health, and environmental literacy.

end insert begin insert

(II) Information, media, technology, career, and life skills
appropriate to each grade from prekindergarten to grade 12.

end insert begin insert

(ii) The alignment of school and community resources with the
needs of pupils and families.

end insert begin insert

(iii) A collaborative governance structure for the effective
braiding of school and community resources and family and
community engagement.

end insert begin insert

(iv) Expanded learning opportunities for all pupils, including
before and after school enrichment programs, workplace learning
opportunities, and postsecondary partnerships.

end insert begin insert

(v) Access to onsite, coordinated support services for pupils
and families, including physical and mental health services, social
services, and youth, family, and community engagement and
development.

end insert begin insert

(B) The services set forth in this paragraph are designed to
holistically address the mental, emotional, and physical health of
pupils and to support the acceleration of academic achievement.

end insert

begin delete

11760.  

Each eligible entity that receives a California promise
neighborhood designation under this chapter shall prepare and
submit an annual report to the department, which shall include
both of the following:

(a) Information about the number and percentage of children,
family members, and community members in the neighborhood
who are served by the program, including a description of the
number and percentage of children accessing each of the pipeline
services and the number of family and community members served
by which programs.

(b) Disaggregated data regarding population and program levels
related to the program’s success in annual growth, expressed with
respect to program and project indicators and performance metrics
developed by the department.

end delete begin insert

begin insert 11760. end insert   

Every three years, promise neighborhood designees
shall undergo a performance review conducted by the department
and the community served by the promise neighborhood. The
review shall examine performance in all of the following outcomes,
as defined by the department:

(a) Children enter kindergarten ready to succeed in school.

(b) Pupils are proficient in core academic subjects.

(c) Pupils successfully transition from middle school grades to
high school.

(d) Pupils graduate from high school.

(e) High school graduates obtain a postsecondary degree,
certification, or credential.

(f) Pupils are healthy.

(g) Pupils feel safe at school and in their community.

(h) Pupils live in stable communities.

(i) Families and community members support learning in
promise neighborhood schools.

(j) Pupils have access to 21st century learning tools.

end insert