BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 1892

By: Rodriguez, Eddie

Public Education

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The community school model for improving struggling campuses is reported to bring together family and student wraparound supports, community partnerships, and high-quality academic programs. It has been demonstrated that the community school model works best when there is a position specifically dedicated to coordinating the partners and services working with the school. C.S.H.B. 1892 seeks to establish a Texas community school grant program that funds the position of a community school coordinator and provides support for community school planning efforts in the initial year of developing a community school.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the commissioner of education in SECTION 1 of this bill.

ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 1892 amends the Education Code to require the Texas Education Agency (TEA) to establish, not later than November 1, 2015, a competitive grant program to assist public elementary, middle, junior high, and high schools in developing community school plans and transitioning into Texas community schools, defined as public elementary, middle, junior high, or high schools that partner 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. The bill defines "community-based organization" as a nonprofit corporation or association located in close proximity to the population the organization serves. The bill requires TEA, from funds appropriated for the purpose, to award two-year grants to eligible schools not to exceed $60,000 each academic year to pay the salary and benefits of a full-time community school coordinator and not to exceed $25,000 each academic year to develop and implement a community school plan. The bill authorizes a grant, on application from a school, to be extended by TEA for an additional year.

C.S.H.B. 1892 makes a public elementary, middle, junior high, or high school eligible to apply for a Texas community school grant if the school demonstrates a commitment to developing and implementing a plan for sustaining the community school plan beyond the end of the grant period and to transitioning into a Texas community school by establishing a school community partnership team to function as the campus-level planning and decision-making committee required as part of the district-level and site-based decision-making process, composed of the members required under existing law and additional community representatives, and by establishing 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.

C.S.H.B. 1892 prohibits funds granted under the Texas community school grant program from being used for direct programs for students or families or for other activities not related to developing or implementing a community school plan. The bill requires a community school coordinator employed using grant funds to have relevant experience as a school district employee or an employee of a community-based organization with experience in developing and implementing a community school plan and in coordinating the process of developing and implementing such a plan. The bill sets out provisions relating to the coordinator's duties. The bill requires the community school plan, before it may be implemented, to satisfy the requirements for a campus improvement plan as it relates to campus planning and site-based decision-making and to be approved by at least 75 percent of campus faculty and staff, 75 percent of parents of students enrolled at the school, and the board of trustees of the school district in which the school is located.

C.S.H.B. 1892 establishes that if a school with performance below any standard of the annual performance review receives a Texas community school grant, the school's school community partnership team functions as the campus intervention team.

C.S.H.B. 1892 requires TEA to set aside at least 10 percent of the funds appropriated for the Texas community school grant program to contract with at least one public or private entity that has experience in developing and implementing a community school plan to act as a technical assistance provider. The bill requires the technical assistance provider to provide capacity-building training to regional education service centers to enable the centers to support schools awarded a grant in transitioning to a Texas community school and sustaining the community school plan and to provide professional development, training, technical assistance, coaching, or quality assurance activities to assist schools awarded a grant in transitioning to a Texas community school, sustaining the community school plan beyond the end of the grant period, and maximizing the effectiveness of the community school plan.

C.S.H.B. 1892 requires TEA to establish benchmarks and performance measures for determining whether a school awarded a Texas community school grant has improved since transitioning to a Texas community school and to analyze the school's performance on the expiration of the school's grant. The bill requires TEA, at least once each year, to monitor the transition into a Texas community school of each school awarded a Texas community school grant under the bill's provisions and to evaluate whether the school has made satisfactory progress toward carrying out the school's objectives as set out in the community school plan. The bill authorizes a school that TEA determines has not made satisfactory progress to continue to receive Texas community school grant funds only if the school amends the school's community school plan to address any deficiencies TEA identified during the evaluation and demonstrates strong community support for the school's transition to a Texas community school. The bill requires the commissioner of education to adopt rules as necessary to implement the bill's provisions relating to the Texas community school grant program.

C.S.H.B. 1892 repeals certain statutory provisions relating to existing community education programs.

C.S.H.B. 1892 repeals the following provisions of the Education Code:

· The heading to Subchapter H, Chapter 29

· Section 7.021(b)(8)

· Section 7.102(c)(17)

· Section 29.251

· Section 29.252

· Section 29.255

· Section 29.256

· Section 29.257

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2015.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

While C.S.H.B. 1892 may differ from the original in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following comparison is organized and formatted in a manner that indicates the substantial differences between the introduced and committee substitute versions of the bill.

INTRODUCED	HOUSE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
SECTION 1. Chapter 29, Education Code, is amended by adding Subchapter M to read as follows: SUBCHAPTER M. COMMUNITY SCHOOL GRANT PROGRAM Sec. 29.501. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: (1) "Community-based organization" means a nonprofit corporation or association located in close proximity to the population the organization serves. (2) "Community school" means 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. Sec. 29.502. COMMUNITY SCHOOL GRANT PROGRAM. (a) The agency shall establish a competitive grant program to assist public elementary, middle, junior high, and high schools in developing community school plans and transitioning into community schools. (b) From funds appropriated for the purpose, the agency shall award two-year grants to eligible schools. Each grant may not exceed: (1) $60,000 each academic year to pay a stipend to a community school coordinator; and (2) $25,000 each academic year to develop and implement a community school plan. (c) On application from a school, a grant awarded under this section may be extended by the agency for an additional year. Sec. 29.503. ELIGIBILITY. A public elementary, middle, junior high, or high school is eligible to apply for a grant under this subchapter if the school demonstrates a commitment to transitioning into a community school by establishing: (1) 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; and (2) a partnership with a lead community-based organization that has experience in developing and implementing a community school plan. Sec. 29.504. USE OF FUNDS. (a) Funds granted under this subchapter may not be used for direct programs for students or families or for other activities not related to developing or implementing a community school plan. (b) A community school coordinator employed using grant funds must have relevant experience as a school district employee or an employee of a community-based organization with experience in developing and implementing a community school plan. 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) Before a community school plan may be implemented, the plan must: (1) satisfy the requirements for a campus improvement plan under Section 11.253; and (2) be approved by: (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. Sec. 29.505. LOW-PERFORMING SCHOOLS. If a school with performance below any standard under Section 39.054(e) receives a grant under this subchapter, the school's school community partnership team functions as the campus intervention team for purposes of Section 39.106.	SECTION 1. Chapter 29, Education Code, is amended by adding Subchapter M to read as follows: SUBCHAPTER M. TEXAS COMMUNITY SCHOOL GRANT PROGRAM Sec. 29.501. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: (1) "Community-based organization" means a nonprofit corporation or association located in close proximity to the population the organization serves. (2) "Texas community school" means 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. Sec. 29.502. TEXAS COMMUNITY SCHOOL GRANT PROGRAM. (a) The agency shall establish a competitive grant program to assist public elementary, middle, junior high, and high schools in developing community school plans and transitioning into Texas community schools. (b) From funds appropriated for the purpose, the agency shall award two-year grants to eligible schools. Each grant may not exceed: (1) $60,000 each academic year to pay the salary and benefits of a full-time community school coordinator; and (2) $25,000 each academic year to develop and implement a community school plan. (c) On application from a school, a grant awarded under this section may be extended by the agency for an additional year. Sec. 29.503. ELIGIBILITY. A public elementary, middle, junior high, or high school is eligible to apply for a grant under this subchapter if the school demonstrates a commitment to: (1) transitioning into a Texas community school by establishing: (A) 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; and (B) 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; and (2) developing and implementing a plan for sustaining the community school plan beyond the end of the grant period. Sec. 29.504. USE OF FUNDS. (a) Funds granted under this subchapter may not be used for direct programs for students or families or for other activities not related to developing or implementing a community school plan. (b) A community school coordinator employed using grant funds must have relevant experience as a school district employee or an employee of a community-based organization with experience in developing and implementing a community school plan and in coordinating the process of developing and implementing such a plan. 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 beyond the end of the grant period. (c) Before a community school plan may be implemented, the plan must: (1) satisfy the requirements for a campus improvement plan under Section 11.253; and (2) be approved by: (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. Sec. 29.505. LOW-PERFORMING SCHOOLS. If a school with performance below any standard under Section 39.054(e) receives a grant under this subchapter, the school's school community partnership team functions as the campus intervention team for purposes of Section 39.106.
No equivalent provision.	Sec. 29.506. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROVIDER. (a) The agency shall set aside at least 10 percent of the funds appropriated for the grant program under this subchapter to contract with at least one public or private entity that has experience in developing and implementing a community school plan to act as a technical assistance provider. (b) A technical assistance provider that contracts with the agency under Subsection (a) shall provide: (1) professional development, training, technical assistance, coaching, or quality assurance activities to assist schools awarded a grant under this subchapter in transitioning to a Texas community school, sustaining the community school plan beyond the end of the grant period, and maximizing the effectiveness of the community school plan; and (2) capacity-building training to regional education service centers to enable the centers to support schools awarded a grant under this subchapter in transitioning to a Texas community school and sustaining the community school plan.
Sec. 29.506. PROGRAM OVERSIGHT. (a) At least once each year, the agency shall: (1) monitor the transition into a community school of each school awarded a grant under this subchapter; and (2) evaluate whether the school has made satisfactory progress toward carrying out the school's objectives as set out in the community school plan. (b) A school that the agency determines has not made satisfactory progress under Subsection (a) may continue to receive grant funds under this subchapter only if the school: (1) amends the school's community school plan to address any deficiencies the agency identified during the evaluation; and (2) demonstrates strong community support for the school's transition to a community school. Sec. 29.507. RULES. The commissioner shall adopt rules as necessary to implement this subchapter.	Sec. 29.507. PROGRAM OVERSIGHT. (a) The agency shall: (1) establish benchmarks and performance measures for determining whether a school awarded a grant under this subchapter has improved since transitioning to a Texas community school; and (2) analyze the school's performance on the expiration of the school's grant. (b) At least once each year, the agency shall: (1) monitor the transition into a Texas community school of each school awarded a grant under this subchapter; and (2) evaluate whether the school has made satisfactory progress toward carrying out the school's objectives as set out in the community school plan. (c) A school that the agency determines has not made satisfactory progress under Subsection (b) may continue to receive grant funds under this subchapter only if the school: (1) amends the school's community school plan to address any deficiencies the agency identified during the evaluation; and (2) demonstrates strong community support for the school's transition to a Texas community school. Sec. 29.508. RULES. The commissioner shall adopt rules as necessary to implement this subchapter.
SECTION 2. Section 29.259, Education Code, is transferred to Subchapter Z, Chapter 29, Education Code, and redesignated as Section 29.923, Education Code.	SECTION 2. Same as introduced version.
SECTION 3. Section 42.003(a), Education Code, is amended.	SECTION 3. Same as introduced version.
SECTION 4. (a) The heading to Subchapter H, Chapter 29, Education Code, is repealed. (b) Sections 7.021(b)(8), 7.102(c)(17), 29.251, 29.252, 29.255, 29.256, and 29.257, Education Code, are repealed.	SECTION 4. Same as introduced version.
SECTION 5. The Texas Education Agency shall establish the grant program under Subchapter M, Chapter 29, Education Code, as added by this Act, not later than November 1, 2015.	SECTION 5. Same as introduced version.
SECTION 6. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2015.	SECTION 6. Same as introduced version.