Amended in Senate April 7, 2015

Senate Bill No. 403

Introduced by Senator Liu

February 25, 2015

An act to begin insert amend Section 1980 of, to end insert add Chapter 19 (commencing with Section 53310) to Part 28 of Division 4 of Title 2 of, and to repeal Section begin delete 53320 end delete begin insert 53322 end insert of, the Education Code, relating to begin insert California end insert community schools.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

SB 403, as amended, Liu. California Community Schools Act.

Existing law begin delete authorizes a county board of education to establish and maintain one or more county community schools, and authorizes a county board of education to enroll certain pupils in county community schools, including, but not limited to, a pupil who has been expelled, as specified. end delete begin insert authorizes school districts and community college districts, and schools and colleges within those districts, to enter into cooperative or contractual arrangements with business, industry, or elements within the community for improvement of the local educational program. end insert

This bill would establish the California Community Schools Act, which would authorize a local educational agency or school and one or more community partners, as defined, to form a community consortium to establish a begin insert California end insert community begin delete school with an integrated focus on academics, health and social services, youth and community development, and parent and community engagement, as specified. end delete begin insert school, as defined. end insert The bill would require the State Department of Education, subject to appropriation by the Legislature in the annual Budget Act or the availability of funds from private sources, to make begin delete community school end delete grants available to qualified recipients to fund begin insert California end insert community schools and to enhance programs at begin insert California end insert community schools. The bill would establish qualification requirements for grant applicants, and would require grant recipients to comply with specified requirements, including, among others, conducting periodic evaluations. The bill would require the California Collaborative for Educational Excellence and the department to provide technical begin delete assistance to local educational agencies, end delete begin insert assistance, end insert as specified. The bill would require the department, on or before November 1, 2019, to report specified information relating to the formation and operation of begin insert California end insert community schools to the education policy committees of the Legislature. begin insert The bill would also make a conforming change to provisions relating to county community schools. 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.  

The Legislature finds and declares all of the
following:

(a) All children are capable of success.

(b) Schools are the centers of vibrant communities.

(c) Strong families build strong educational communities.

(d) Children succeed when adults work together to foster
positive educational outcomes.

(e) Schools work best when families take active roles in the
education of children. Children are more successful in school when
families and teachers are supported to work as partners.

(f) Hunger, homelessness, health issues, and a lack of access to
intervention and enrichment activities inhibit learning. Schools
are limited in their ability to dedicate time and resources to provide
a wide range of opportunities and supports to ameliorate the
impacts of child poverty, creating an opportunity gap that inhibits
children from succeeding in school.

(g) A community school is a traditional school that actively
partners with its community to leverage existing resources and
identify new resources to support the transformation of the school
to provide enrichment, social services, and additional life skill
opportunities for pupils, parents, and community members at large.
Each community school is unique because its programming is
designed by and for the school staff, in partnership with parents,
community stakeholders, and pupils in response to the needs of
the local community.

(h) Using schools as hubs, community school strategies foster
intentional collaboration and alignment among school districts;
state, county and city government; and postsecondary education,
community-based organizations, nonprofit organizations, and
business. By providing in-school supports, enrichment, and
extended learning opportunities outside of normal school hours
pupils are more successful academically, more engaged in their
communities, safer, and better prepared to make a successful
transition to adulthood.

(i) The community schools approach is based on a whole child
approach and youth development principles to improve pupil
engagement and build a positive nurturing school climate. Research
shows that community schools have a powerful positive impact
on pupils, as demonstrated by increased academic success,
increased attendance, improved pupil engagement, decreases in
grade retention and dropout, and decreased behavioral problems
with a resulting improvement of school climate.

(j) The integrated pupil support model of a community school
embraces a whole child perspective that recognizes the importance
of a child’s health and safety, socioemotional development,
behavior, and relationships to his or her educational success. The
study recognizes that educational success is affected by multiple
contexts, in and out of school. Research clearly indicates that the
likelihood of academic success, especially for disadvantaged pupils,
is enhanced by a more comprehensive set of supports and
opportunities.

(k) The local control funding formula calls for a level
educational playing field for high need pupils, which is a key focus
of community schools. Local control and accountability plans take
a holistic view of pupil outcomes, as do community schools. In
addition to pupil achievement, new state priorities and local control
and accountability plans add involvement of parents and the
community in decisionmaking, and prioritize pupil engagement,
school climate, college and career preparation, and other key areas
that are highly aligned with community school strategies.

(l) Successful community schools currently exist in California
and throughout the nation, and should be models for replication.
California schools have benefited from the federal Full-Service
Community Schools Program, the federal Promise begin delete Neighborhood
Initiative, end delete begin insert Neighborhoods program, end insert and from the national
community schools movement that has been recognized by the
National League of Cities and the National School Boards
Association. These programs recognize that community schools
are a fundamental equity strategy to address disparities.

(m) Community schools are cost effective because they leverage
existing resources provided by local, regional, state, federal,
nonprofit, and private sources and align and connect programs to
the schools, where the pupils are already congregated and where
parents and the broader community can be engaged.

begin insert

begin insert SEC. 2. end insert   

end insert

begin insert Section 1980 of the end insert begin insert Education Code end insert begin insert is amended to
read: end insert

1980.  

begin insert (a) end insert begin insert   end insert A county board of education may establish and
maintain one or more community schools.

begin insert

(b) A county community school shall not be designated as a
California community school unless the requirements specified in
the California Community Schools Act (Chapter 19 (commencing
with Section 53310) of Part 28 of Division 4 of Title 2) are
satisfied.

end insert

begin delete SEC. 2. end delete
begin insert SEC. 3. end insert   

Chapter 19 (commencing with Section 53310) is added
to Part 28 of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Education Code, to read:

 

Chapter  19. California Community Schools

 

Article 1.  Definitions

 

53310.  

This chapter shall be known, and may be cited, as the
California Community Schools Act.

53311.  

As used in this chapter, the following definitions apply:

(a) “Community consortium” means a partnership established
between a school or a local educational agency and one or more
community partners for purposes of begin delete establishing, operating, and
sustaining end delete begin insert establishing and operating end insert a community school.

(b) “Community partner” means a provider of one or more
community services or a community organization nonprofit or
business entity with a mission and record of improving conditions
in the community.

begin delete

(c) “Community school” means a public and private partnership
to coordinate educational, developmental, and family engagement
and support, before school and after school programs, and health
services during school and nonschool hours for pupils, families,
and local communities at a public school with the objectives of
reducing absenteeism, increasing pupil engagement and
connectedness, improving academic achievement, building stronger
relationships between schools, pupils, parents, and communities,
and improving the skills, capacity, and well-being of the pupils,
families, and surrounding community residents.

end delete begin insert

(c) “California community school” or “community school”
means a public school engaged in cross-agency partnerships with
one or more community partners for the delivery of community
services to pupils, families, and community members.

end insert

(d) “Community services” includes all of the following:

(1) Primary medical and dental care that is available to pupils
and when possible community residents.

(2) Mental health prevention and treatment services that begin delete is end delete begin insert are end insert
available to pupils and, when possible, community residents.

(3) Academic enrichment activities designed to promote a
pupil’s cognitive development and provide opportunities to practice
and apply academic skills.

(4) Programs designed to increase school attendance, including
reducing truancy and early chronic absenteeism rates.

(5) Youth development programs designed to promote young
people’s social, emotional, physical, and moral development,
including arts, sports, physical fitness, youth leadership, community
service, and service learning opportunities.

(6) Early childhood education, including prekindergarten, Head
Start, and Early Head Start programs.

(7) Programs designed to do all of the following:

(A) Facilitate parental involvement in, and engagement with,
their children’s education, including parental activities that involve
supporting, monitoring, and advocating for their children’s
education.

(B) Promote parental leadership in begin delete the life of end delete the school and
community.

(C) Build parenting skills.

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

(9) Schoolage child care services, including before school and
after school services and full day programming that operates during
school holidays, summers, vacations, and weekends.

(10) Supports to meet fundamental material needs of homeless
and disadvantaged pupils.

(11) Youth and adult job training services and career counseling
services.

(12) Programs that provide assistance to pupils who have been
truant, suspended, or expelled and that offer multiple pathways to
high school graduation, a General Education Development (GED),
or other alternatives to high school completion.

(13) Adult education, including instruction in English as a
second language, adult literacy, computer literacy, financial
literacy, and skills training.

begin insert

(e) “Local educational agency” means a school district, county
office of education, or charter school.

end insert

 

Article 2.  General Provisions

 

53312.  

(a) Local educational agencies and schools are
authorized and encouraged to form community consortiums with
begin delete a variety of end delete community partners to establish begin delete a end delete begin insert California end insert
community begin delete school or schools with an integrated focus on
academics, health and social services, youth and community
development, and parent and community engagement that will
lead to improved pupil learning, stronger families, and healthier
communities. end delete begin insert schools. end insert

(b)  begin delete The end delete begin insert A California end insert community begin delete schools, formed pursuant to
this chapter, end delete begin insert school end insert shall strive to become begin delete centers end delete begin insert the center end insert of
begin delete their communities end delete begin insert the community end insert by providing programs and
services for persons of all ages, serving pupils, parents, and
community begin delete members throughout the day, including evenings,
weekends, and summer. end delete begin insert members. end insert

53313.  

The state board and the department shall support and
encourage local educational agencies in the creation of begin insert California end insert
community schools. All policies, guidelines, and rules and
regulations adopted by the state board pursuant to this chapter shall
actively foster the formation, development, and operation of
begin insert California end insert community schools.

53314.  

The department may seek funds from nonprofit and
private donors and grants to fund local educational agencies’ efforts
to create and support begin insert California end insert community schools.

53315.  

The department and the California Collaborative for
Educational Excellence shall begin delete assist local educational agencies by
providing end delete begin insert provide end insert technical assistance directly or through referral
to third-party technical service providers. begin delete A end delete begin insert The department shall
establish and maintain a end insert resource and referral directory begin delete shall be
established and maintained by the department end delete when funds become
available, either through state appropriations or other funding and
support.

53316.  

Subject to begin insert the end insert appropriation begin insert of funds end insert in the annual
Budget Act or the availability of funding from private sources for
begin insert the end insert creation and support of begin insert California end insert community schools, the
department shall make begin delete community school end delete grants available to fund
begin insert California end insert community schools and to enhance programs at
begin insert California end insert community schools.

53317.  

A request for proposal process shall be used in awarding
grants under this chapter. begin delete Proposals end delete begin insert A proposal end insert may be submitted
begin delete on behalf of end delete begin insert by end insert a school, a local educational agency, or a
begin delete consortium of two or more schools or local educational agencies.
Proposals end delete begin insert community consortium. The proposal end insert shall be evaluated
and scored begin delete on the basis of end delete begin insert using end insert criteria begin insert adopted by the state board
that is end insert consistent with this begin delete chapter and other factors developed and
adopted by the state board. end delete begin insert chapter. end insert

begin insert

begin insert 53318. end insert   

A community consortium shall develop a plan for
aligning community services that may include, but is not limited
to, the following:

(a) Assessing the needs of pupils, families, schools, and the local
community.

(b) Mapping resources in the school and community to identify
potential community partners to provide services that fill identified
needs and resource gaps.

(c) Developing a plan to establish a community school
infrastructure, including, but not limited to, establishing the
following:

(1) A committee of elected officials and local leaders to focus
on policy decisions.

(2) An executive team tasked with overall operations.

(3) A school team for day-to-day service delivery, referrals, and
coordination.

(4) Developing systems for coordination, collective
decisionmaking, resources sharing, and sustainability.

(5) Examining opportunities to achieve economies of scale and
eliminate duplication of efforts among the consortium members.

(6) Developing a plan for cross-agency collaboration by
implementing memoranda of understanding between community
partners.

(7) Evidence that community partners will commit time and
resources to establishing relationships and creating systems for
sharing resources and making decisions based on ongoing needs
assessments and program quality data.

(8) Establishing school governance teams that are representative
of the school community.

(9) Commitments from community partners to implement a data
collection system based on shared outcome goals that includes
community input to ensure improvement of service delivery and
coordinated community services delivery.

(10) Use of a community schoolsite coordinator to facilitate
partnership coordination, ensure equitable access to high-quality
support services, and engage members from all constituent groups.

end insert begin delete

53318.  

In order to

end delete

begin insert

begin insert 53319. end insert   

end insert

begin insert To end insert qualify for a grant under this chapter, begin delete a school or
local educational agency shall have, end delete begin insert an applicant shall, end insert at a
minimum, begin delete the following components or end delete begin insert have a end insert plan to develop
the following components as a part of the grant begin delete proposal in order
to sustain a system for alignment of school and community
resources with the needs of pupils and families: end delete begin insert proposal: end insert

(a) A local advisory group comprised of school leadership,
parents, and community stakeholders that establishes school
begin delete specific end delete programming goals, assesses program needs, and oversees
the process of implementing expanded programming.

(b) A begin delete program director or resource end delete begin insert community schoolsite end insert
coordinator who is responsible for establishing the local advisory
group, assessing the needs of pupils and community members,
identifying programs to meet those needs, coordinating partnerships
and services with community partners, developing the before and
after school, weekend, and summer programming, and overseeing
the implementation of programming to ensure high quality and
robust participation.

(c) A collaborative governance structure for the effective
begin delete braiding end delete begin insert integration end insert of school and community resources and family
and community engagement.

(d) Expanded learning opportunities for all pupils, such as before
and after school enrichment programs, workplace learning
opportunities, and postsecondary partnerships.

(e) Access to onsite, coordinated begin delete support end delete begin insert community end insert services
for pupils and families, such as physical and mental health services
through school-based health centers or programs, social services,
and youth, family, and community engagement and development
designed to holistically address the mental, emotional, and physical
health of pupils and to support the acceleration of academic
achievement.

begin delete

(f) Maintenance of attendance records in all programming
components.

end delete begin delete

(g) Maintenance of measurable data showing annual
participation and the impact of programming on the participating
children and adults.

end delete begin delete

(h)

end delete

begin insert (f) end insert  Documentation of begin delete true end delete collaboration between the school and
community stakeholders, including local begin delete governmental units, end delete
begin insert government, end insert civic organizations, families, businesses, and social
service providers.

begin delete

(i)

end delete

begin insert (g) end insert  A nondiscrimination policy ensuring that the community
school does not condition participation upon race, ethnic origin,
religion, sex, or disability.

begin delete 53319. end delete
begin insert 53320. end insert   

A grant recipient under this chapter shall do all of the
following:

(a) Conduct periodic evaluations of the progress achieved with
funds allocated under a grant, consistent with the purposes of this
chapter.

(b) Use the evaluations to refine and improve activities
conducted with the grant and the performance measures for the
activities.

(c) Make the results of the evaluations publicly available,
including providing public notice of the availability.

(d) Identify best practices begin delete and lessons learned for the purpose
of helping other end delete begin insert to help end insert local educational agencies and schools in
the formation of begin insert California end insert community schools and to revise the
community school policies of the state board and the department.

begin insert

(e) Maintain attendance records in all programming
components.

end insert begin insert

(f) Maintain data on annual participation.

end insert

begin insert

begin insert 53321. end insert   

Nothing in this chapter limits a county community
school formed pursuant to Section 1980 from also being designated
as a California community school, subject to compliance with this
chapter.

end insert

begin delete 53320. end delete
begin insert 53322. end insert   

(a) The department shall study and report on the
formation and operation of begin insert California end insert community schools,
including, but not limited to, all of the following:

(1) Best practices that can be replicated by other local
educational agencies and schools desiring to form community
schools.

(2) Whether begin insert California end insert community schools have improved pupil
learning, family and community engagement, school effectiveness
in decreasing truancy and the dropout rate, and physical and mental
health of the pupils and other members of the community.

(3) Whether begin insert California end insert community schools have met their
educational and community goals.

(b) The department shall report its findings and
recommendations to the education policy committees of the
Legislature on or before November 1, 2019.

(c) Pursuant to Section 10231.5 of the Government Code, this
section is repealed on November 1, 2020.