SB1264 - 541R

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1. Arizona community schools pilot program; requirements; grants; community school coordinators; delayed repeal; definitions

A. A three‑year Arizona community schools pilot program is established in the department of education to assist public elementary and middle schools in developing and implementing community school plans and participating in the pilot program. The department of education shall select three schools with an enrollment of at least four hundred pupils each, at least one of which is an elementary school, to participate in the pilot program.

B. From monies appropriated for this purpose, the department of education shall award three-year grants to eligible schools. Each grant may not exceed the sum of:

1. $60,000 each academic year to pay the salary and benefits of a full-time community school coordinator.

2. $25,000 each academic year to develop and implement a community school plan.

C. On application from a school, a grant awarded under this section may be extended by the governor for an additional year.

D. A public elementary or middle school may apply for a grant under this section if the school demonstrates a commitment to both:

1. Participating in the pilot program by establishing both:

(a) A school‑community partnership team to function as the campus‑level planning and decision-making committee composed of school officials and community representatives.

(b) A partnership with a community-based organization, a social service provider or an education or youth services organization that has experience in developing and implementing a community school plan.

2. Developing and implementing a plan for sustaining the community school plan beyond the end of the pilot program.

E. Grants awarded under this section may not be used for direct programs for students or families or for other activities that are not related to developing or implementing a community school plan.

F. Each school that participates in the pilot program shall hire a new employee or designate an existing employee to serve as the full‑time community school coordinator for that school. A community school coordinator who is compensated with grant monies issued pursuant to this section must have relevant experience as a school district employee, a charter school employee or an employee of a community-based organization with experience in developing and implementing a community school plan and in coordinating the process of developing and implementing such a plan. The coordinator's duties include:

1. Recruiting community partners and building community support for the school.

2. Coordinating all of the following:

(a) The school‑community partnership team's planning and training activities.

(b) Planning and evaluation efforts between the school and community partners.

(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 or the charter school and community partners.

7. Developing a plan for sustaining the community school plan beyond the end of the pilot program.

G. Before a community school plan may be implemented, the plan and the application to participate in the pilot program must be approved by the school district governing board or the charter school governing body.

H. In developing or implementing a community school plan, a school that participates in the pilot program may seek assistance from other community schools, regional education service centers or technical assistance providers.

I. A school that is selected to participate in the pilot program shall both:

1. Hold a community meeting at least twice each year to both:

(a) Inform community stakeholders about the school's progress in implementing the community school plan.

(b) Seek community input regarding any improvements or changes that could be made to the community school plan.

2. Annually report to the school district governing board or the charter school governing body regarding the school's progress in implementing the community school plan.

J. The department of education shall disburse the monies appropriated for the pilot program. The schools that are selected to participate in the pilot program may seek additional funding through public‑private partnerships and may seek and accept gifts, grants, donations and monies from federal, state and private sources for purposes related to the pilot program.

K. In addition to the monies specified in subsection J of this section, the department of education may use monies allocated for community schools pursuant to federal law to distribute grants to eligible schools.

L. This section is repealed from and after December 31, 2022.

M. For the purposes of this section:

1. "Community-based organization" means a nonprofit corporation or association that is located in close proximity to the population the organization serves and that supports the academic success of students by providing health care, mentoring, college‑readiness programs or job training.

2. "Community school" means a public elementary or middle school that both:

(a) 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) Offers a variety of programs and services that may include one or more of the following:

(i) Early childhood education.

(ii) After-school and summer school academic and enrichment programs.

(iii) College and career preparation.

(iv) Service learning opportunities, such as internships and community service programs.

(v) Leadership and mentoring programs.

(vi) Activities to encourage community and parent engagement in students' education.

(vii) Parenting classes and health and social services, including services provided by licensed social workers, for students and families.