Bill Text: VA HB2434 | 2017 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Community schools; Department of Education to establish taskforce for pilot program.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2017-02-07 - Left in Education [HB2434 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2017-HB2434-Introduced.html
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 22.1-199.7 as follows:
§22.1-199.7. Community services efficiency; community schools; Community Schools Planning Fund.
A. This section shall be known and may be cited as "the Community Services Efficiency Act."
B. In order to remove nonacademic barriers to learning as a means to enhance student academic success in public elementary and secondary schools throughout the Commonwealth, the Department of Education shall establish an interagency task force composed of state and local agencies and entities in the areas of early childhood development, health, social services, community engagement, family engagement, higher education, and workforce development for the purpose of (i) developing a pilot program for the establishment of community schools whereby public elementary and secondary schools serve as centers for the provision of such community programs and services to students and their families as may be necessary based on the unique needs of the student population to be served and (ii) developing and providing to the Governor, the Secretary of Education, local school boards, and other interested state, local, and private entities policy recommendations relating to the coordinated delivery of community services to students and their families and the operation of community schools throughout the Commonwealth.
C. The community schools pilot program established pursuant to subsection B shall include a process by which school boards and community partnerships consisting of school boards and other community and service providers may apply to the Department of Education to designate an elementary or secondary school in the local school division as a community school. The application process shall include requirements for applicants to provide a plan for the sustainability of the community school and for the measurement of the success and effectiveness of the community school. The Department of Education shall consult with the interagency task force established pursuant to subsection A in the selection of applications and the designation of community schools.
D. There is hereby created in the state treasury a special nonreverting fund to be known as the Community Schools Planning Fund, referred to in this section as "the Fund." The Fund shall be established on the books of the Comptroller. All funds appropriated for such purpose and any gifts, donations, grants, bequests, and other funds received on its behalf shall be paid into the state treasury and credited to the Fund. Interest earned on moneys in the Fund shall remain in the Fund and be credited to it. Any moneys remaining in the Fund, including interest thereon, at the end of each fiscal year shall not revert to the general fund but shall remain in the Fund. Moneys in the Fund shall be used solely for the purposes of providing planning grants to school boards or community partnerships as described in subsection C that seek to apply to the Department of Education to designate an elementary or secondary school in the local school division as a community school pursuant to this section. Expenditures and disbursements from the Fund shall be made by the State Treasurer on warrants issued by the Comptroller upon written request signed by Superintendent of Public Instruction.
