SENATE BILL 304

50th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2011

INTRODUCED BY

Cynthia Nava

AN ACT

RELATING TO PUBLIC EDUCATION; ENACTING THE FULL-SERVICE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS ACT.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

     SECTION 1. A new section of the Public School Code is enacted to read:

     "[NEW MATERIAL] SHORT TITLE.--This act may be cited as the "Full-Service Community Schools Act"."

     SECTION 2. A new section of the Public School Code is enacted to read:

     "[NEW MATERIAL] FULL-SERVICE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS PROGRAM--PURPOSE--FUNCTIONS.--

          A. A "full-service community school" program may be created in any public school in the state.

          B. The purpose of a full-service community school program is to partner with federal, state and local entities and private community-based organizations to provide educational service programs that improve the coordination, delivery, effectiveness and efficiency of services provided to children and families, including wide-ranged school-based health care, extended learning hours and family engagement and support services.

          C. A full-service community school shall include the following core set of services on site:

                (1) extended learning experiences, including before- and after-school programs as well as summer programs;

                (2) school-based or school-linked health care; and

                (3) family engagement and support services.

          D. A full-service community school shall also include the following:

                (1) assessment of community resources informed by students, families and community and school leaders that relates to the effective delivery of core services on site; and

                (2) establishment of an evaluation process that measures both the quality and quantity of outcomes."

     SECTION 3. A new section of the Public School Code is enacted to read:

     "[NEW MATERIAL] FULL-SERVICE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS PROGRAM--GRANTS--DEPARTMENT DUTIES.--

          A. Subject to the availability of funding, grants are available to a public school or group of public schools that meets department eligibility requirements.

          B. Applications for grants shall be in the form prescribed by the department and shall include the following information:

                (1) a statement of need, including demographic and socioeconomic information about the area to be served by the full-service community schools program;

                (2) goals and expected outcomes of the program;

                (3) services and activities to be provided by the program;

                (4) written agreements for the provision of services by public and private agencies, community groups and other parties;

                (5) a work plan and budget for the program, including staffing requirements and the expected availability of staff;

                (6) days and hours of operation;

                (7) strategies for dissemination of information about the program to potential users;

                (8) training and professional development plans; and

                (9) letters of endorsement and commitment from community agencies and organizations and local governments, and

any other information the department requires.

          C. Grants shall not be awarded for applications submitted that supplant funding and other resources that have been used for purposes similar to the full-service community schools program."

     SECTION 4. A new section of the Public School Code is enacted to read:

     "[NEW MATERIAL] FULL-SERVICE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS FUND.--The "full-service community schools fund" is created in the state treasury. The fund shall consist of appropriations, gifts, grants, donations and earnings from investment of the fund. The fund shall not be transferred to any other fund at the end of a fiscal year. The fund shall be administered by the department, and money in the fund is appropriated to the department to carry out the purposes of the Full-Service Community Schools Act. Money in the fund shall be disbursed on warrants issued by the secretary of finance and administration pursuant to vouchers signed by the secretary of public education or the secretary of public education's authorized representative."

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