Amended in Senate April 23, 2015

Amended in Senate April 7, 2015

Senate Bill No. 403

Introduced by Senator Liu

February 25, 2015

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

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

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

Existing law 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.

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 California community school, as defined. The bill would require the begin delete State Department of Education, end delete begin insert Superintendent of Public Instruction, end insert subject to begin insert the end insert appropriation begin delete by the Legislature end delete begin insert of funds end insert in the annual Budget Act or the availability of funds from private sources, to make grants available to qualified recipients to fund California community schools and to enhance programs at California 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 begin delete periodic end delete begin insert annual end insert evaluations. begin delete The bill would require the California Collaborative for Educational Excellence and the department to provide technical assistance, as specified. end delete The bill would require the begin delete department, end delete begin insert State Department of Education, end insert on or before November 1, 2019, to report specified information relating to the formation and operation of California community schools to the education policy committees of the Legislature. The bill would also make a conforming change to provisions relating to county community schools.

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:

begin delete

(a) All children are capable of success.

end delete begin delete

(b) Schools are the centers of vibrant communities.

end delete begin delete

(c) Strong families build strong educational communities.

end delete begin delete

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

end delete begin delete

(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.

end delete begin delete

(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.

end delete begin delete

(g)

end delete

begin insert (a) end insert  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.

begin delete

(h)

end delete

begin insert (b) end insert  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.

begin delete

(i)

end delete

begin insert (c) end insert  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.

begin delete

(j)

end delete

begin insert (d) end insert  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. begin delete The
study recognizes that educational success is affected by multiple
contexts, in and out of school. end delete Research clearly indicates that the
likelihood of academic success, especially for disadvantaged pupils,
is enhanced by a more comprehensive set of supports and
opportunities.

begin delete

(k)

end delete

begin insert (e) end insert  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.

begin delete

(l)

end delete

begin insert (f) end insert  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 Neighborhoods
program, 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.

begin delete

(m)

end delete

begin insert (g) end insert  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.

SEC. 2.  

Section 1980 of the Education Code is amended to
read:

1980.  

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

(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.

SEC. 3.  

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)  begin insert (1) end insert begin insert   end insert “Community consortium” means begin delete a partnership
established between a school or a local educational agency and
one or more community partners for purposes of establishing and
operating a community school. end delete begin insert a consortium of community
representatives that shall include both of the following: end insert

begin insert

(A) A public school or local educational agency.

end insert begin insert

(B) At least one other community partner that is independent
of the public school or local educational agency.

end insert begin insert

(2) A community consortium may include a broad array of
community partners, including, but not limited to, the following:

end insert begin insert

(A) A community-based organization.

end insert begin insert

(B) An organization serving children and youth.

end insert begin insert

(C) An institution of higher education.

end insert begin insert

(D) A foundation.

end insert begin insert

(E) A business.

end insert begin insert

(F) A teacher organization.

end insert begin insert

(G) An organization representing education professionals.

end insert begin insert

(H) A local government, including a government agency serving
children and youth, such as child welfare and juvenile justice
agency.

end insert begin insert

(I) An organization representing pupils.

end insert begin insert

(J) An organization representing parents.

end insert begin insert

(3) A community consortium may include representatives from
multiple jurisdictions.

end insert

(b) “Community partner” means a begin delete provider of one or more
community services or a community organization nonprofit end delete
begin insert government agency, community organization, nonprofit
organization, end insert or business entity with a mission and record of
improving conditions in the begin delete community. end delete begin insert community that provides
one or more community services. end insert

(c) “California community school” or “community school”
means a public school begin delete engaged in cross-agency end delete begin insert that participates
in a community-based effort to coordinate and integrate
educational, developmental, family, health, and other
comprehensive services through community-based organizations
and public and private end insert partnerships with one or more community
partners for the delivery of community services to pupils, families,
and community members.

(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 are
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 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.

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

begin insert

(f) “Specialized instructional support personnel” means local
educational agency personnel in the following categories:

end insert begin insert

(1) Counselors.

end insert begin insert

(2) Social workers.

end insert begin insert

(3) Psychologists.

end insert begin insert

(4) Physical, occupational, and other therapists.

end insert begin insert

(5) Nurses.

end insert

 

Article 2.  General Provisions

 

53312.  

(a) Local educational agencies and schools are
authorized and encouraged to form community consortiums with
community partners to establish California community schools.

(b) A California community school shall strive to become the
center of the community by providing programs and services for
persons of all ages, serving pupils, parents, and community
members.

53313.  

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

begin delete

53314.  

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

53315.  

The department and the California Collaborative for
Educational Excellence shall provide technical assistance directly
or through referral to third-party technical service providers. The
department shall establish and maintain a resource and referral
directory when funds become available, either through state
appropriations or other funding and support.

end delete

begin delete 53316. end delete
begin insert 53314. end insert   

begin delete Subject to end delete begin insert The Superintendent shall do all of the
following: end insert

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

begin insert

(b) To assist public elementary or secondary schools to function
as California community schools, the Superintendent shall award
grants to applicants that do all of the following:

end insert begin insert

(1) Coordinate not less than three existing community services
or provide and coordinate not less than two additional community
services at one or more public elementary or secondary schools.

end insert begin insert

(2) Integrate multiple services into a comprehensive,
coordinated continuum supported by research-based activities
that achieve the performance goals established under paragraph
(4) of subdivision (d) of Section 53316 to meet the holistic needs
of young people.

end insert begin insert

(3) If applicable, coordinate and integrate services provided
by community-based organizations and government agencies with
services provided by specialized instructional support personnel.

end insert begin insert

(4) Provide matching funds or in-kind services from any
allowable source, public or private, in an amount representing 25
percent of the grant.

end insert begin insert

(c) In awarding grants under this section, the Superintendent
shall give priority to eligible applicants that have or are planning
to implement a minimum of two or more California community
schools serving high percentages of unduplicated pupils, as defined
in Sections 42238.01 and 42238.02.

end insert begin insert

(d) The Superintendent may authorize an eligible entity to use
grant funds under this section for planning purposes in an amount
not greater than 30 percent of the total grant amount.

end insert begin insert

(e) The Superintendent may seek funds from nonprofit and
private donors and grants to fund local educational agencies'
efforts to create and support California community schools.

end insert begin insert

(f) The Superintendent shall provide technical assistance directly
through the department or through referral to third-party technical
service providers with a demonstrated ability to successfully
develop community schools.

end insert

begin delete

53317.  

A request for proposal process shall be used in awarding
grants under this chapter. A proposal may be submitted by a school,
a local educational agency, or a community consortium. The
proposal shall be evaluated and scored using criteria adopted by
the state board that is consistent with this chapter.

end delete begin insert

begin insert 53315. end insert   

All local educational agencies shall be eligible to apply
to the Superintendent for the grant program.

end insert begin insert

begin insert 53316. end insert   

To seek a grant under this section, a local educational
agency shall submit an application to the Superintendent at such
time and in such manner as the Superintendent may require. The
Superintendent shall award grants to applicants that include all
of the following:

(a) A description of the eligible entity and their community
consortium.

(b) A memorandum of understanding among all community
partners that will assist the eligible entity to coordinate and provide
community services and that describes the roles the community
partners will assume.

(c) A description of the capacity of the eligible entity to
coordinate and provide community services at one or more
California community schools.

(d) A comprehensive plan that includes descriptions of all of
the following:

(1) The pupil, family, and school community to be served,
including information about demographic characteristics that
include major racial and ethnic groups, median family income,
percent of pupils eligible for free and reduced-price meals, and
other information.

(2) A needs assessment that identifies the academic, physical,
social, emotional, health, mental health, and other needs of pupils,
families, and community residents.

(3) A community assets assessment that identifies existing
resources that could be aligned.

(4) Yearly measurable performance goals, including an increase
in the percentage of families and pupils targeted for services each
year of the program, that are consistent with all of the following
objectives:

(A) Children are ready for school.

(B) Pupils are engaged and achieving academically.

(C) Pupils are physically, mentally, socially, and emotionally
healthy.

(D) Schools and neighborhoods are safe and provide a positive
climate for learning that is free from bullying or harassment.

(E) Families are supportive and engaged in their children’s
education.

(F) Pupils and families are prepared for postsecondary
education and 21st century careers.

(G) Pupils are contributing to their communities.

(5) A description of how the grant planning components
coordinate with the local educational agency’s local control and
accountability plan.

(6) Performance measures to monitor progress toward
attainment of the goals established under paragraph (4).

(7) Stakeholder surveys that include department approved survey
instruments that measure a pupil’s sense of safety, school climate,
and pupil connectedness.

(8) Funding sources for community services to be coordinated
and provided at each school to be served, whether such funding
is derived from a grant under this section or from other federal,
state, local, or private sources.

(9) A plan for sustaining the programs and services outlined in
this chapter.

end insert begin insert

begin insert 53317. end insert   

(a) Each grant awarded under this chapter shall be
for a period of three years and may be renewed at the discretion
of the Superintendent based on the eligible entity's demonstrated
effectiveness in meeting the performance goals and measures
established under paragraph (4) subdivision (d) of Section 53316.

(b) Funds made available to a grantee under this chapter may
be used only to supplement, and not supplant, any other federal,
state, or local funds that would otherwise be available to carry
out the activities assisted under this chapter.

end insert

53318.  

begin delete A community consortium shall develop a end delete begin insert Each grant
recipient shall do all of the following: end insert

begin insert (a) end insert begin insert   end insert begin insert Develop a three-year end insert plan begin insert , in conjunction with a community
consortium, end insert for aligning community services that begin delete may end delete begin insert shall end insert
include, but is not limited to, the following:

begin delete

(a)

end delete

begin insert (1) end insert  Assessing the needs of pupils, families, schools, and the
local community.

begin delete

(b)

end delete

begin insert (2) end insert  Mapping resources in the school and community to identify
potential community partners to provide services that fill identified
needs and resource gaps.

begin delete

(c)

end delete

begin insert (3) end insert  Developing a plan to establish a community school
infrastructure, including, but not limited to, establishing the
following:

begin delete

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

end delete begin delete

(2)

end delete

begin insert (A) end insert  An executive team tasked with overall operations.

begin delete

(3)

end delete

begin insert (B) end insert  A school team for day-to-day service delivery, referrals,
and coordination.

begin delete

(4)

end delete

begin insert (C) end insert  Developing systems for coordination, collective
decisionmaking, resources sharing, and sustainability.

begin delete

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

end delete begin delete

(6)

end delete

begin insert (D) end insert  Developing a plan for cross-agency collaboration by
implementing memoranda of understanding between community
partners.

begin delete

(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.

end delete begin delete

(8)

end delete

begin insert (E) end insert  Establishing school governance teams that are representative
of the school community.

begin delete

(9)

end delete

begin insert (F) end insert  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.

begin delete

(10)

end delete

begin insert (G) end insert  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.

begin insert

(b) Conduct annual evaluations of the progress achieved with
the grant toward achieving the purposes of this chapter.

end insert begin insert

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

end insert begin insert

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

end insert begin insert

(e) Collect and report data as required by the department and
the applicable local control and accountability plan.

end insert

begin delete

53319.  

To qualify for a grant under this chapter, an applicant
shall, at a minimum, have a plan to develop the following
components as a part of the grant proposal:

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

(b) A community schoolsite 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
integration 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 community 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.

(f) Documentation of collaboration between the school and
community stakeholders, including local government, civic
organizations, families, businesses, and social service providers.

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

53320.  

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 to help local educational agencies
and schools in the formation of California community schools and
to revise the community school policies of the state board and the
department.

(e) Maintain attendance records in all programming components.

(f) Maintain data on annual participation.

end delete

begin delete 53321. end delete
begin insert 53319. 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.

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

(a) The department shall study and report on the
formation and operation of California 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 California community schools have improved pupil
learning, family and community engagement, school effectiveness
in decreasing begin delete truancy end delete begin insert truancy, chronic absence, end insert and the dropout
rate, and physical and mental health of the pupils and other
members of the community.

(3) Whether California 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.