(a) As used in this section:

(1) “Community school” means a public school that participates in a coordinated, community-based effort with community partners to provide comprehensive educational, developmental, family, health and wrap-around services to students, families and community members.

(2) “Community partner” means a provider of one or more of the following services to students, families or community members: (A) Primary medical or dental care, (B) mental health treatment and services, (C) academic enrichment activities, (D) programs designed to improve student attendance at school, (E) youth development programs, (F) early childhood education, (G) parental involvement programs, (H) child care services, (I) programs that provide assistance to students who are truant or who have been suspended or expelled, (J) youth and adult job training and career counseling services, (K) nutrition education, (L) adult education, (M) remedial education and enrichment activities, (N) legal services, or (O) any other appropriate services or programs.

(b) On and after July 1, 2013, a local or regional board of education may designate an existing school or establish a new school to be a community school. Such community school shall collaborate with community partners to provide services to students, families and community members.

(c) Following the designation or establishment of a community school, but prior to the opening of such community school, the board of education shall conduct (1) an operations and instructional audit, in accordance with the provisions of subsection (c) of section 10-223h, for an existing school that has been designated as a community school, (2) a community needs audit to identify the academic, physical, social, emotional, health, mental health and civic needs of students and their families that may impact student learning and academic achievement, and (3) a community resource assessment of potential resources, services and opportunities available within or near the community that students, families and community members may access and integrate into the community school.

(d) The board of education shall develop a community school plan for each school designated as a community school. When developing such community school plan, such board shall use the results of the community resource assessment to address the specific needs identified in the operations and instructional audit and community needs audit. Such community school plan shall coordinate, integrate and enhance services for students, families and community members at the community school to improve the academic achievement of such students and increase family and community involvement in education.

(e) Any local or regional board of education that has established a community school shall, annually, at the conclusion of each school year, submit a report to the Department of Education, in a form and manner prescribed by the department, regarding each community school. Such report shall (1) include an evaluation on the effectiveness of the community school in providing services to students, families and community members, including, but not limited to, whether the implementation of the community school plan has improved student academic achievement and increased family and community involvement in education, (2) measure the development and implementation of partnerships with community partners, (3) provide information regarding the degree of communication between schools and families, neighborhood safety, school climate, the degree of parental participation in school activities, student health, student civic participation, the number of students, families and community members receiving services at the community school and any other information that is relevant to evaluating the community school, and (4) analyze, as appropriate, how student learning and academic achievement, graduation rates, attendance rates, school readiness, the number of suspensions and expulsions, graduate enrollment in institutions of higher education have been affected by the incorporation of services at the community school.

(f) Not later than January 1, 2015, and annually thereafter, the Commissioner of Education shall submit a report on community schools to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to education, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a. Such report shall include an evaluation of the community schools in operation during the prior school year and provide information regarding (1) state and federal barriers to implementation and effective coordination of services at the community schools, (2) the extent of coordination between state agencies providing services at the community schools, and (3) the efficiency and adequacy of local and state programs and policies with respect to student and family services provided at the community school.

(P.A. 13-64, S. 1.)

History: P.A. 13-64 effective July 1, 2013.