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SECTION 1. Chapter 29,
Education Code, is amended by adding Subchapter N to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER N. COMMUNITY
SCHOOLS
Sec. 29.551. DEFINITION.
Sec. 29.552. COMMUNITY
SCHOOL. (a) A community school is a public elementary, middle, junior high,
or high school that partners with one or more community-based organizations
to coordinate academic, social, and health services to reduce barriers to
learning and improve the quality of education for students in the
community.
(b) A community school
offers a variety of programs and services, which may include:
(1) early childhood
education;
(2) after-school and
summer school academic and enrichment programs;
(3) college and career
preparation;
(4) service learning
opportunities, such as internships and community service programs;
(5) leadership and
mentoring programs;
(6) activities to
encourage community and parent engagement in students' education;
(7) health and social
services for students and their families; and
(8) parenting classes.
Sec. 29.553. TRANSITION TO
COMMUNITY SCHOOL. (a) A public elementary, middle, junior high, or high
school may transition to a community school if the school:
(1) establishes a school
community partnership team to function as the campus-level planning and
decision-making committee required under Section 11.251, composed of the
members required under Section 11.251 and additional community
representatives;
(2) conducts a
comprehensive on-site needs assessment using the guidelines and procedures
described by Section 39.106(b);
(3) establishes a
partnership with a lead community-based organization that has experience in
developing and implementing a community school plan;
(4) develops a community
school plan that satisfies the requirements for a campus improvement plan
under Section 11.253; and
(5) gains approval for the
community school plan from:
(A) at least 75 percent of
campus faculty and staff and 75 percent of parents of students enrolled at
the school; and
(B) the board of trustees
of the school district in which the school is located.
(b) A school that
transitions to a community school under Subsection (a) shall designate a
school district employee or an employee of a community-based organization
with experience in developing and implementing a community school plan as
the community school coordinator for the school. The coordinator's duties
include:
(1) recruiting community
partners and building community support for the school;
(2) coordinating:
(A) the school community
partnership team's planning and training activities;
(B) planning and
evaluation efforts between the school and community partners;
(C) academic and student
and family support programs; and
(D) after-school, summer,
and enrichment programs for students;
(3) encouraging community
and parent engagement in the school;
(4) seeking available
resources for implementing community school programs and services;
(5) conducting an annual
needs assessment of the school in coordination with the school community
partnership team; and
(6) acting as a liaison
between the school, other community schools, the school district, and
community partners.
(c) In developing or
implementing a community school plan, the school may seek assistance from
other community schools or from
regional education service centers.
Sec. 29.554. COMMUNITY AND
DISTRICT OVERSIGHT. A school that transitions to a community school shall:
(1) hold a community
meeting at least twice each year to:
(A) inform community stakeholders
about the school's progress in implementing the community school plan; and
(B) seek community input
regarding any improvements or changes that could be made to the plan; and
(2) report annually to the
board of trustees of the school district in which the school is located
regarding the school's progress in implementing the plan.
Sec. 29.555. LOW-PERFORMING
SCHOOLS. (a) A school community partnership team formed by a school with
performance below any standard under Section 39.054(e) functions as the
campus intervention team for purposes of Section 39.106.
(b) A low-performing
school transitioning to a community school shall receive district-level
support to assist the school in developing and implementing the community
school plan. The support must continue for at least two school years after
the school successfully meets the standards under Section 39.054(e).
Sec. 29.556. FUNDING. A
community school or a school transitioning to a community school may seek
and accept gifts, grants, donations, and funds from federal and state
agencies and private sources for purposes related to the school's function
as a community school.
Sec. 29.557. RECOGNITION
AS COMMUNITY SCHOOL. (a) A school that transitions to a community school
shall be recognized by the state as a community school.
(b) The agency shall
develop methods for recognizing a school as a community school.
Sec. 29.558. RULES.
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SECTION 1. Chapter 29,
Education Code, is amended by adding Subchapter N to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER N. TEXAS
COMMUNITY SCHOOLS
Sec. 29.551. DEFINITION.
Sec. 29.552. TEXAS
COMMUNITY SCHOOL. (a) A Texas
community school is a public elementary, middle, junior high, or high
school that partners with one or more community-based organizations to
coordinate academic, social, and health services to reduce barriers to
learning and improve the quality of education for students in the
community.
(b) A Texas community school offers a variety of
programs and services, which may include:
(1) early childhood
education;
(2) after-school and summer
school academic and enrichment programs;
(3) college and career
preparation;
(4) service learning
opportunities, such as internships and community service programs;
(5) leadership and
mentoring programs;
(6) activities to
encourage community and parent engagement in students' education;
(7) health and social
services for students and their families; and
(8) parenting classes.
Sec. 29.553. TRANSITION TO
TEXAS COMMUNITY SCHOOL. (a) A public elementary, middle, junior high, or
high school may transition to a Texas
community school if the school:
(1) establishes a school
community partnership team to function as the campus-level planning and
decision-making committee required under Section 11.251, composed of the
members required under Section 11.251 and additional community
representatives;
(2) conducts a
comprehensive on-site needs assessment using the guidelines and procedures
described by Section 39.106(b);
(3) establishes a
partnership with a lead community-based organization, such as Communities In Schools, a social service
provider, or an education or youth services organization, that has
experience in developing and implementing a community school plan;
(4) develops a community
school plan that satisfies the requirements for a campus improvement plan
under Section 11.253; and
(5) gains approval for the
community school plan from:
(A) at least 75 percent of
campus faculty and staff and 75 percent of parents of students enrolled at
the school; and
(B) the board of trustees
of the school district in which the school is located.
(b) A school that
transitions to a Texas community
school under Subsection (a) shall hire a
new employee or designate a school district employee or an employee
of a community-based organization with experience in developing and implementing
a community school plan as the community school coordinator for the school.
The coordinator's duties include:
(1) recruiting community
partners and building community support for the school;
(2) coordinating:
(A) the school community
partnership team's planning and training activities;
(B) planning and
evaluation efforts between the school and community partners;
(C) academic and student
and family support programs; and
(D) after-school, summer,
and enrichment programs for students;
(3) encouraging community
and parent engagement in the school;
(4) seeking available
resources for implementing community school programs and services;
(5) conducting an annual
needs assessment of the school in coordination with the school community
partnership team;
(6) acting as a liaison
between the school, other community schools, the school district, and
community partners; and
(7) developing a plan for sustaining the community school plan.
(c) In developing or
implementing a community school plan, the school may seek assistance from
other community schools, regional education service centers, or technical assistance providers.
(d) For purposes of Subsection (c), a technical assistance provider
is a public or private entity that has experience in developing and implementing
a community school plan and that provides:
(1) professional development, training, technical assistance,
coaching, or quality assurance activities to assist schools in
transitioning to a Texas community school, sustaining the community school
plan, or maximizing the effectiveness of that plan; or
(2) capacity-building training to regional education service
centers to enable the centers to support a school's transition to a Texas
community school or assist the school in sustaining the school's community
school plan.
Sec. 29.554. COMMUNITY AND
DISTRICT OVERSIGHT. A school that transitions to a Texas community school shall:
(1) hold a community
meeting at least twice each year to:
(A) inform community
stakeholders about the school's progress in implementing the community
school plan; and
(B) seek community input
regarding any improvements or changes that could be made to the plan; and
(2) report annually to the
board of trustees of the school district in which the school is located
regarding the school's progress in implementing the plan.
Sec. 29.555. LOW-PERFORMING
SCHOOLS. (a) A school community partnership team formed by a school with
performance below any standard under Section 39.054(e) functions as the
campus intervention team for purposes of Section 39.106.
(b) A low-performing
school transitioning to a Texas
community school shall receive district-level support to assist the school
in developing and implementing the community school plan. The support must
continue for at least two school years after the school successfully meets
the standards under Section 39.054(e).
Sec. 29.556. FUNDING. A
Texas community school or a school transitioning to a Texas community school may seek and accept
gifts, grants, donations, and funds from federal and state agencies and
private sources for purposes related to the school's function as a Texas community school.
Sec. 29.557. RECOGNITION
AS TEXAS COMMUNITY SCHOOL. (a) A school that transitions to a Texas community school shall be recognized
by the state as a Texas community
school.
(b) The agency shall
develop methods for recognizing a school as a Texas
community school.
Sec. 29.558. RULES.
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SECTION 2. Sections 39.106(c)
and (f), Education Code, are amended to read as follows:
(c) On completing the on-site
needs assessment under this section, the campus intervention team shall,
with the involvement and advice of the school community partnership team,
if applicable, recommend actions relating to any area of insufficient
performance, including:
(1) reallocation of resources;
(2) technical assistance;
(3) changes in school
procedures or operations;
(4) staff development for
instructional and administrative staff;
(5) intervention for
individual administrators or teachers;
(6) waivers from state
statutes or rules;
(7) teacher recruitment or
retention strategies and incentives provided by the district to attract and
retain teachers with the characteristics included in Subsection (b)(1); [or]
(8) transition to a
community school under Subchapter N, Chapter 29; or
(9) other actions the
campus intervention team considers appropriate.
(f) Notwithstanding any other
provision of this subchapter, if the commissioner determines that a campus
for which an intervention is ordered under Subsection (a) is not fully
implementing the campus intervention team's recommendations or targeted
improvement plan or updated plan, the commissioner may:
(1) order the
reconstitution of the campus as provided by Section 39.107; or
(2) approve the campus's
transition to a community school under Subchapter N, Chapter 29, on request
from the principal of the campus.
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SECTION 2. Sections 39.106(c)
and (f), Education Code, are amended to read as follows:
(c) On completing the on-site
needs assessment under this section, the campus intervention team shall,
with the involvement and advice of the school community partnership team,
if applicable, recommend actions relating to any area of insufficient
performance, including:
(1) reallocation of
resources;
(2) technical assistance;
(3) changes in school
procedures or operations;
(4) staff development for
instructional and administrative staff;
(5) intervention for
individual administrators or teachers;
(6) waivers from state
statutes or rules;
(7) teacher recruitment or
retention strategies and incentives provided by the district to attract and
retain teachers with the characteristics included in Subsection (b)(1); [or]
(8) transition to a Texas community school under Subchapter N,
Chapter 29; or
(9) other actions the
campus intervention team considers appropriate.
(f) Notwithstanding any other
provision of this subchapter, if the commissioner determines that a campus
for which an intervention is ordered under Subsection (a) is not fully
implementing the campus intervention team's recommendations or targeted
improvement plan or updated plan, the commissioner may:
(1) order the
reconstitution of the campus as provided by Section 39.107; or
(2) approve the campus's
transition to a Texas community
school under Subchapter N, Chapter 29, on request from the principal of the
campus.
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SECTION 3. Section 39.107,
Education Code, is amended by amending Subsection (a) and adding
Subsections (a-2) and (s) to read as follows:
(a) Subject to Subsection
(a-2), after [After] a campus has been identified as
unacceptable for two consecutive school years, the commissioner shall order
the reconstitution of the campus.
(a-2) A campus may elect
to transition to a community school under Subchapter N, Chapter 29, instead
of reconstitution under this section if the campus:
(1) notifies the commissioner
of the campus's election not later than two weeks after the date on which
the commissioner orders reconstitution under Subsection (a); and
(2) satisfies the
requirements of transitioning to a community school under Subchapter N,
Chapter 29, not later than six months after the date on which the
commissioner orders reconstitution under Subsection (a).
(s) The commissioner may
not order the closure of a campus under this section without giving the
campus the opportunity to transition to a community school under Subchapter
N, Chapter 29, and at least two years to implement the campus's community
school plan.
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SECTION 3. Section 39.107,
Education Code, is amended by amending Subsection (a) and adding
Subsections (a-2) and (s) to read as follows:
(a) Subject to Subsection
(a-2), after [After] a campus has been identified as
unacceptable for two consecutive school years, the commissioner shall order
the reconstitution of the campus.
(a-2) A campus may elect
to transition to a Texas community
school under Subchapter N, Chapter 29, instead of reconstitution under this
section if the campus:
(1) notifies the
commissioner of the campus's election not later than two weeks after the
date on which the commissioner orders reconstitution under Subsection (a);
and
(2) satisfies the
requirements of transitioning to a Texas
community school under Subchapter N, Chapter 29, not later than six months
after the date on which the commissioner orders reconstitution under
Subsection (a).
(s) The commissioner may
not order the closure of a campus under this section without giving the
campus the opportunity to transition to a Texas
community school under Subchapter N, Chapter 29, and at least two years to
implement the campus's community school plan.
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SECTION 4. Section 29.259,
Education Code, is transferred to Subchapter Z, Chapter 29, Education Code,
and redesignated as Section 29.923, Education Code, to read as follows:
Sec. 29.923 [29.259].
ADULT HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA AND INDUSTRY CERTIFICATION CHARTER SCHOOL PILOT
PROGRAM. (a) In this section, "adult education" means services
and instruction provided below the college level for adults by a nonprofit
entity described by Subsection (e).
(b) The commissioner shall
establish an adult high school diploma and industry certification charter
school pilot program as provided by this section as a strategy for meeting
industry needs for a sufficiently trained workforce within the state.
(c) The agency shall adopt
and administer a standardized secondary exit-level assessment instrument
appropriate for assessing adult education program participants who
successfully complete high school curriculum requirements under a program
provided under this section. The commissioner shall determine the level of
performance considered to be satisfactory on the secondary exit-level
assessment instrument for receipt of a high school diploma by an adult
education program participant in a program provided under this section.
(d) Notwithstanding any other
law and in addition to the number of charters allowed under Subchapter D,
Chapter 12, a charter under the pilot program may, on the basis of an
application submitted, be granted to a single nonprofit entity described by
Subsection (e) to provide an adult education program for not more than 150
individuals described by Subsection (g) to successfully complete:
(1) a high school program
that can lead to a diploma; and
(2) career and technology
education courses that can lead to industry certification.
(e) A nonprofit entity may be
granted a charter under this section only if the entity:
(1) has a successful history
of providing education services, including industry certifications and job
placement services, to adults 18 years of age and older whose educational
and training opportunities have been limited by educational disadvantages,
disabilities, homelessness, criminal history, or similar circumstances; and
(2) agrees to commit at least
$1 million to the adult education program offered.
(f) A nonprofit entity
granted a charter under this section may partner with a public junior
college to provide career and technology courses that lead to industry
certification.
(g) A person who is at least
19 years of age and not more than 50 years of age is eligible to enroll in
the adult education program under this section if the person has not earned
a high school equivalency certificate and:
(1) has failed to complete
the curriculum requirements for high school graduation; or
(2) has failed to perform
satisfactorily on an assessment instrument required for high school
graduation.
(h) The nonprofit entity must
include in its charter application the information required by Subsection
(i).
(i) A charter granted under
this section must:
(1) include a description of
the adult education program to be offered under this section; and
(2) establish specific,
objective standards for receiving a high school diploma, including
satisfactory performance on the standardized secondary exit-level
assessment instrument described by Subsection (c).
(j) Funding for an adult
education program under this section is provided based on the following:
(1) for participants who are
26 years of age and older, an amount per participant from available general
revenue funds appropriated for the pilot program equal to the statewide
average amount of state funding per student in weighted average daily
attendance that would be allocated under the Foundation School Program to
an open-enrollment charter school under Section 12.106 were the student
under 26 years of age; and
(2) for participants who are
at least 19 years of age and under 26 years of age, an amount per
participant through the Foundation School Program equal to the amount of
state funding per student in weighted average daily attendance that would
be allocated under the Foundation School Program for the student's
attendance at an open-enrollment charter school in accordance with Section
12.106.
(k) Sections 12.107 and
12.128 apply as though funds under this section were funds under Subchapter
D, Chapter 12.
(l) Not later than December 1
of each even-numbered year, beginning December 1, 2016, the agency shall
prepare and deliver to the governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the
house of representatives, and presiding officer of each standing
legislative committee with primary jurisdiction over public education or
economic development a report that:
(1) evaluates any adult
education program operated under a charter granted under this section; and
(2) makes recommendations
regarding the abolition, continuation, or expansion of the pilot program.
(m) The commissioner shall
adopt rules necessary to administer the pilot program under this section. In
adopting rules, the commissioner may modify charter school requirements
only to the extent necessary for the administration of a charter school
under this section that provides for adult education.
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SECTION 4. Same as introduced
version.
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