Bill Text: FL S1218 | 2015 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Community Schools Initiative

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Failed) 2015-05-01 - Died in Education Pre-K - 12 [S1218 Detail]

Download: Florida-2015-S1218-Introduced.html

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       Florida Senate - 2015                                    SB 1218
       
       
        
       By Senator Thompson
       
       
       
       
       
       12-01166-15                                           20151218__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to a community schools initiative;
    3         requiring the Department of Education to implement the
    4         Reigniting Education Achievement with Coordinated Help
    5         (REACH) Program as a public-private partnership in the
    6         lowest-performing public schools; authorizing funding;
    7         specifying services to be offered with the goal of
    8         improving student academic achievement; providing
    9         requirements for implementation of the program;
   10         requiring the department to submit a report to the
   11         Legislature at the conclusion of the program;
   12         requiring the State Board of Education to adopt rules
   13         to administer this program; providing an effective
   14         date.
   15          
   16  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   17  
   18         Section 1. Community schools initiative; Reigniting
   19  Education Achievement with Coordinated Help (REACH) Program.—
   20         (1) Beginning in the 2015-2016 school year, the Department
   21  of Education shall establish a 4-year community schools
   22  initiative by implementing the Reigniting Education Achievement
   23  with Coordinated Help (REACH) Program in three to five of the
   24  state’s lowest-performing traditional public schools with a
   25  large percentage of low-income, at-risk students. Program
   26  funding may not exceed $900,000 for the initial year of the
   27  program and each subsequent year unless increased by an act of
   28  the Legislature. The Commissioner of Education shall establish
   29  criteria for participation in the program, including school,
   30  health, and community services that must be offered. A school
   31  interested in participating in the program must submit a letter
   32  of interest to the Commissioner of Education by July 15, 2015.
   33         (2) The program shall consist of a public-private
   34  partnership to supply wrap-around services to students attending
   35  the schools, including, but not limited to, tutorial and after
   36  school programs, student counseling, nutrition education, health
   37  and dental services, parental counseling, and adult education.
   38         (3) The program shall focus on improving academic
   39  achievement through a holistic approach in which students
   40  receive the academic, medical, nutritional, and social support
   41  they need to develop strong literacy and mathematical skills, as
   42  well as the qualities of responsibility, self-control,
   43  attentiveness, and cooperation. The program shall make available
   44  support services that encourage healthy family dynamics and
   45  home-school connections by providing parents with skills and
   46  opportunities to get involved in their children’s education and
   47  help their children succeed in school. The program shall be
   48  based on the following research-driven elements that lead to
   49  student success: improving student achievement and learning,
   50  leveraging community assets and improving school and community
   51  collaboration, improving staff capacity and effectiveness, and
   52  developing family and community partnerships.
   53         (4) The program shall be implemented as follows:
   54         (a) During the first year of operation, a school shall
   55  build partnerships with such entities as the school district,
   56  the local teachers’ union, parents, social service agencies,
   57  medical and dental professionals, community and civic groups,
   58  and businesses. The school shall also plan services, advertise
   59  the program, establish baseline data, begin offering the
   60  services, and report costs and benefits.
   61         (b) During the second, third, and fourth years of the
   62  program, the school shall continue the partnerships; continue
   63  offering the services; seek input and refine services; monitor
   64  the academic, health, and nutritional progress of students and
   65  families; and report progress, costs, and benefits.
   66         (5) At the conclusion of the program, the Department of
   67  Education shall submit to the President of the Senate and the
   68  Speaker of the House of Representatives a report that must
   69  include information on successful practices identified and their
   70  impact on student performance and success, and include a
   71  recommendation for continuing or terminating the program.
   72         (6) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules to
   73  administer this section.
   74         Section 2. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law.