87R1739 MM-F

By: Rodriguez H.B. No. 81

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to a public school campus's election under a campus turnaround plan to operate as a community school.

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

SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 39A, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 39A.1011 to read as follows:

Sec. 39A.1011. CAMPUS TURNAROUND PLAN TO OPERATE AS COMMUNITY SCHOOL. (a) A campus turnaround plan may permit a campus to operate as a community school. A plan to operate as a community school must include, in addition to the other requirements of this subchapter, strategies and programs to coordinate academic, social, and health services and reduce barriers to learning through partnerships and service coordination.

(b) Programs and services offered by a campus operating as a community school under a campus turnaround plan 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.

(c) A campus that elects to operate as a community school under a campus turnaround plan must:

(1) establish a school community partnership team, composed of the members required for a campus-level planning and decision-making committee under Section 11.251 and additional community representatives, to coordinate with the campus intervention team for the campus;

(2) establish a partnership with a lead organization that has experience in developing and implementing a community school plan;

(3) designate a school district employee or an employee of an organization with experience in developing and implementing a community school plan as the community school coordinator for the campus, whose duties must include the recruitment and coordination of services from community partners;

(4) develop a community school plan that satisfies the requirements for a campus improvement plan under Section 11.253; and

(5) obtain 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 campus; and

(B) the board of trustees of the school district in which the campus is located.

SECTION 2. Section 39A.107, Education Code, is amended by adding Subsection (d) to read as follows:

(d) Notwithstanding Subsection (c), the commissioner may not order the closure of a campus under this section without giving the campus the opportunity to operate as a community school under a campus turnaround plan as provided by Section 39A.1011 and at least two years to implement the campus's community school plan.

SECTION 3. Section 39A.111, Education Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 39A.111. CONTINUED UNACCEPTABLE PERFORMANCE RATING. (a) If a campus is considered to have an unacceptable performance rating for three consecutive school years after the campus is ordered to submit a campus turnaround plan under Section 39A.101, the commissioner, subject to Section 39A.112, shall order:

(1) appointment of a board of managers to govern the school district as provided by Section 39A.202; or

(2) closure of the campus.

(b) Notwithstanding Subsection (a), the commissioner may not order the closure of a campus under this section without giving the campus the opportunity to operate as a community school under a campus turnaround plan as provided by Section 39A.1011 and at least two years to implement the campus's community school plan.

SECTION 4. 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, 2021.