85R1079 KJE-F     By: Garcia S.B. No. 193       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 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. 29.504.  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.  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 or 39.107, as   applicable.          (b)  A community school plan functions as a campus turnaround   plan for purposes of Section 39.107.          (c)  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. 29.506.  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. 29.507.  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. 29.508.  RULES. The commissioner may adopt rules as   necessary to implement this subchapter.          SECTION 2.  Section 39.106(c), Education Code, is 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 M, Chapter 29; or                (9)  other actions the campus intervention team   considers appropriate.          SECTION 3.  Section 39.107, Education Code, is amended by   adding Subsection (s) to read as follows:          (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 M, Chapter   29, and at least two years to implement the campus's community   school plan.          SECTION 4.  Section 12.137(a), Education Code, is amended to   read as follows:          (a)  This section applies only to:                (1)  an open-enrollment charter school designated as a   dropout recovery school as described by Section 12.1141(c) if the   enrollment of the school consists only of students 17 years of age   and older; and                (2)  an adult education program provided under a high   school diploma and industry certification charter school pilot   program under Section 29.923 [29.259].          SECTION 5.  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.          SECTION 6.  Section 42.003(a), Education Code, is amended to   read as follows:          (a)  A student is entitled to the benefits of the Foundation   School Program if, on September 1 of the school year, the student:                (1)  is 5 years of age or older and under 21 years of age   and has not graduated from high school, or is at least 21 years of   age and under 26 years of age and has been admitted by a school   district to complete the requirements for a high school diploma; or                (2)  is at least 19 years of age and under 26 years of   age and is enrolled in an adult high school diploma and industry   certification charter school pilot program under Section 29.923   [29.259].          SECTION 7.  Section 2308.304(d), Government Code, is amended   to read as follows:          (d)  Program resources included in the operational component   are:                (1)  job training programs funded under the Workforce   Investment Act of 1998 [Job Training Partnership Act] (29 U.S.C.   Section 2801 [1501] et seq.);                (2)  postsecondary vocational and technical job   training programs that are not part of approved courses or programs   that lead to licensing, certification, or an associate degree under   Chapters 61, 130, and 135, or Subchapter E, Chapter 88, Education   Code;                (3)  adult education programs under Chapter 315, Labor   Code [Subchapter H, Chapter 29, Education Code];                (4)  employment services programs;                (5)  literacy funds available to the state under   federal programs [the National Literacy Act of 1991 (20 U.S.C.   Section 1201 et seq.)];                (6)  Temporary Assistance for Needy Families   employment programs under Part A, Subchapter IV, Social Security   Act (42 U.S.C. Section 601 et seq.) [the job opportunities and basic   skills program under Part F, Subchapter IV, Social Security Act (42   U.S.C. Section 682)]; and                (7)  the supplemental nutrition assistance [food   stamp] employment and training program authorized under 7 U.S.C.   Section 2015(d).          SECTION 8.  (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 9.  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, 2017.