Relates to establishing full-service community schools

BILL NUMBER:A8598

Title of bill

An act to amend the education law, in relation to estab- lishing full-service community schools

Purpose or general idea of bill

This bill, the Full-Service Community Schools Act, supports the development, implementation and operation of full-service community schools.

Summary of specific provisions

Section 1 sets out the purposes of the act, definition of its terms and the parameters of a competitive grant program to support the development and implementation of full-service community schools.

Justification

New York State has a primary responsibility to assure that students attending New York's public schools will be prepared for the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century. To meet this responsibility, it is essential that schools serve as the centers of their communities. From the center, schools can bring to students the services that they may need to overcome barriers to learning. Students may need medical and dental care, mental health services, nutrition services, after-school and summer school programs, academic enrichment, preparation for transition from elementary to middle to high school, job training and career counseling and family support. And, parents must be involved at each step of the way. No school alone can provide these comprehensive services. No one community-based organization or govern- ment can either. Only a consortium of a school district and community partners can address the comprehensive needs of students. This bill, therefore, establishes a full-service community school initiative to develop, implement and support consortia of schools and community part- ners to provide comprehensive services to students.

Community schools are full-service programs which strengthen schools by strengthening students and their families. The full-service community school partners with community-based organizations to provide critical support services at the schools themselves. The school coordinates crit- ical support services such as career counseling or early childhood education which address barriers to learning with students' educational programs. The community partners provide a myriad of services at the school to students and their families. Students get the services they need to learn and thrive. Schools, their teachers and principals can focus on their primary mission teaching and learning.

Individual schools have made valiant efforts to address the needs of students using funds from a variety of sources but such efforts have lacked coordination, are not cost-effective and are often so fragmented that they are difficult for students and families to access. This bill launches a systemic effort to coordinate educational programs with essential health, mental health and enrichment services and facilitate parental involvement in their children's education through a comprehen- sive community schools initiative. Collaboration between schools and their community partners to deliver support services to students will

help them meet learning standards, graduate and close the achievement gap and open the door to post-secondary education and economic independ- ence for all students in New York's public schools.

Prior legislative history

New bill.

Fiscal implications

To be determined.

Effective date

The act shall take effect on the 180th day after it shall become law.