86R12857 KJE-F

By: Hinojosa H.B. No. 2616

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to Texas Community Schools.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Chapter 29, Education Code, is amended by adding Subchapter M to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER M. TEXAS COMMUNITY SCHOOLS

Sec. 29.501. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "community-based organization" means a nonprofit corporation or association located in close proximity to the population the organization serves.

Sec. 29.502. 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. 29.503. 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 39A.053(c);

(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. 29.504. 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. 29.505. 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. 29.506. 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. 29.507. RULES. The commissioner may adopt rules as necessary to implement this subchapter.

SECTION 2. 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, 2019.