S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
300
2023-2024 Regular Sessions
I N S E N A T E
(PREFILED)
January 4, 2023
___________
Introduced by Sen. STEWART-COUSINS -- read twice and ordered printed,
and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Finance
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to establishing the
community schools act; and making an appropriation therefor
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "community
schools act".
§ 2. The education law is amended by adding a new section 3602-g to
read as follows:
§ 3602-G. COMMUNITY SCHOOLS GRANT PROGRAM. 1. THERE IS HEREBY ESTAB-
LISHED WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT A COMMUNITY SCHOOLS GRANT PROGRAM TO FUND
THE PLANNING, IMPLEMENTATION, IMPROVEMENT AND EVALUATION OF COMMUNITY
SCHOOLS. THE PURPOSE OF THIS PROGRAM SHALL BE:
A. TO ENSURE HIGH-QUALITY EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AND IMPROVED
EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES FOR ALL STUDENTS THROUGH INVESTMENT IN COMMUNITY
SCHOOLS;
B. TO ESTABLISH SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS WITH ENGAGING AND
CULTURALLY RELEVANT CURRICULUM, HEALTH, SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL SERVICES,
POSITIVE DISCIPLINE PRACTICES SUCH AS RESTORATIVE JUSTICE, AND TRANSFOR-
MATIONAL PARENT AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, AS A COMPREHENSIVE SOLUTION TO
PROBLEMS FACING PUBLIC SCHOOLS, ESPECIALLY IN POOR COMMUNITIES; AND
C. TO DOCUMENT AND EVALUATE LESSONS LEARNED FROM COMMUNITY SCHOOLS
PROGRAMS TO DEVELOP A SET OF BEST PRACTICES TO BE SHARED LOCALLY, STATE-
WIDE AND NATIONALLY.
2. A. WITHIN AMOUNTS APPROPRIATED THEREFOR, THE COMMISSIONER IS HEREBY
AUTHORIZED AND DIRECTED TO AWARD COMPETITIVE GRANTS PURSUANT TO THIS
SECTION TO ELIGIBLE SCHOOL DISTRICTS OR IN A CITY WITH A POPULATION OF
ONE MILLION OR MORE AN ELIGIBLE ENTITY TO IMPLEMENT, BEGINNING IN THE
TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-THREE--TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-FOUR SCHOOL YEAR, A PLAN
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01473-01-3
S. 300 2
THAT TARGETS SCHOOL BUILDINGS AS COMMUNITY HUBS TO DELIVER CO-LOCATED OR
SCHOOL-LINKED ACADEMIC, HEALTH, MENTAL HEALTH, NUTRITION, COUNSELING,
LEGAL AND/OR OTHER SERVICES TO STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES IN A MANNER
THAT WILL LEAD TO IMPROVED EDUCATIONAL AND OTHER OUTCOMES. IN A CITY
WITH A POPULATION OF ONE MILLION OR MORE, ELIGIBLE ENTITIES SHALL MEAN
THE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK, OR NOT-FOR-PROFIT
ORGANIZATIONS, WHICH SHALL INCLUDE NOT-FOR-PROFIT COMMUNITY BASED ORGAN-
IZATIONS. AN ELIGIBLE ENTITY THAT IS A NOT-FOR-PROFIT MAY APPLY FOR A
COMMUNITY SCHOOL GRANT PROVIDED THAT IT COLLABORATES WITH THE CITY
SCHOOL DISTRICT OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK AND RECEIVES THE APPROVAL OF THE
CHANCELLOR OF THE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK.
B. A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL PROCESS SHALL BE USED IN AWARDING SUCH
GRANTS AND SHALL BEGIN NO LATER THAN JUNE FIRST, TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-
THREE. PRIOR TO AWARDING SUCH GRANTS, THE COMMISSIONER SHALL DEVELOP THE
FOLLOWING:
(I) THE SCORING RUBRIC BY WHICH SUCH PROPOSALS WILL BE EVALUATED,
PROVIDED THAT SUCH GRANTS SHALL BE AWARDED BASED ON FACTORS INCLUDING,
BUT NOT LIMITED TO: MEASURES OF SCHOOL DISTRICT NEED; MEASURES OF THE
NEED OF THE STUDENTS TO BE SERVED BY EACH OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS; THE
SCHOOL DISTRICT'S PROPOSAL TO TARGET THE HIGHEST NEED SCHOOLS AND
STUDENTS; THE SUSTAINABILITY OF THE PROPOSED COMMUNITY SCHOOLS PROGRAM;
AND PROPOSAL QUALITY; AND THE FACTORS DELINEATED IN PARAGRAPH C OF THIS
SUBDIVISION;
(II) THE FORM AND MANNER BY WHICH APPLICATIONS WILL BE SUBMITTED;
(III) THE MANNER BY WHICH CALCULATION OF THE AMOUNT OF THE AWARD WILL
BE DETERMINED;
(IV) THE TIMELINE FOR THE REVIEW OF APPLICATIONS; AND
(V) PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION PHASES THAT WILL TRIGGER PAYMENT OF SET
PERCENTAGES OF THE TOTAL AWARD.
C. IN ASSESSING PROPOSAL QUALITY, IN ADDITION TO THE SCORING RUBRIC,
THE COMMISSIONER SHALL TAKE INTO ACCOUNT FACTORS INCLUDING, BUT NOT
LIMITED TO:
(I) THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT'S PROPOSAL WOULD PROVIDE
SUCH COMMUNITY SERVICES THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND
NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS;
(II) THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE PROPOSAL WOULD PROVIDE FOR DELIVERY OF
SUCH SERVICES DIRECTLY IN SCHOOL BUILDINGS;
(III) THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE PROPOSAL ARTICULATES HOW SUCH SERVICES
WOULD FACILITATE MEASURABLE IMPROVEMENT IN STUDENT AND FAMILY OUTCOMES;
(IV) THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE PROPOSAL ARTICULATES AND IDENTIFIES HOW
EXISTING FUNDING STREAMS AND PROGRAMS WOULD BE USED TO PROVIDE SUCH
COMMUNITY SERVICES; AND
(V) THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE PROPOSAL ENSURES THE SAFETY OF ALL
STUDENTS, STAFF AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN SCHOOL BUILDINGS USED AS COMMU-
NITY HUBS.
D. EACH SCHOOL SITE REFERENCED IN A PROPOSAL SHALL BE:
(I) A LOW PERFORMANCE SCHOOL, PERFORMING IN THE LOWEST FIFTEEN PERCENT
OF SCHOOLS STATEWIDE;
(II) A SCHOOL WITH A GRADUATION RATE OF LESS THAN SIXTY PERCENT OVER
THE LAST THREE YEARS; OR
(III) DEEMED BY THE DEPARTMENT A SCHOOL IN POVERTY THAT WOULD BENEFIT
FROM THE GRANT PROGRAM.
E. A RESPONSE TO A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS ISSUED PURSUANT TO THIS
SUBDIVISION MAY BE SUBMITTED BY A SINGLE SCHOOL DISTRICT OR JOINTLY BY A
CONSORTIUM OF TWO OR MORE SCHOOL DISTRICTS, OR IN A CITY WITH A POPU-
LATION OF ONE MILLION OR MORE, AN ELIGIBLE ENTITY.
S. 300 3
F. THE AMOUNT OF THE GRANT AWARD SHALL BE DETERMINED BY THE COMMIS-
SIONER, EXCEPT THAT NO SINGLE DISTRICT MAY BE AWARDED MORE THAN FORTY
PERCENT OF THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF GRANT AWARDS MADE PURSUANT TO THIS
SECTION; AND PROVIDED FURTHER THAT THE MAXIMUM AWARD TO ANY INDIVIDUAL
COMMUNITY SCHOOL SITE SHALL BE FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS PER YEAR;
AND PROVIDED FURTHER THAT THE AMOUNT AWARDED WILL BE PAID OUT IN SET
PERCENTAGES OVER TIME UPON SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION OF EACH PHASE OF A
SCHOOL DISTRICT'S APPROVED PROPOSAL; AND PROVIDED FURTHER THAT NONE OF
THE GRANTS AWARDED PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION MAY BE USED TO SUPPLANT
EXISTING FUNDING.
3. A. THE COMMISSIONER IS AUTHORIZED TO AWARD PLANNING GRANTS FOR A
TERM OF ONE YEAR. GRANTEES WHO COMPLETE A PLAN THAT MEETS THE REQUIRE-
MENTS FOR DEMONSTRATED READINESS PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPH B OF THIS SUBDI-
VISION SHALL THEN BE AWARDED AN OPERATIONAL GRANT FOR A TERM OF FIVE
YEARS WHICH SHALL BE RENEWABLE AT THE DISCRETION OF THE COMMISSIONER.
B. GRANTS SHALL BE AWARDED FOR THE TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-THREE--TWO
THOUSAND TWENTY-FOUR SCHOOL YEAR TO APPLICANTS BASED UPON THE FACTORS IN
SUBDIVISION TWO OF THIS SECTION. THE COMMISSIONER IS HEREBY AUTHORIZED
TO AWARD GRANTS FOR PLANNING OF NOT MORE THAN TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND
DOLLARS FOR A ONE-YEAR PERIOD. AT THE END OF THIS PERIOD, GRANTEES SHALL
MEET THE FOLLOWING REQUIREMENTS FOR DEMONSTRATED READINESS:
(I) THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A SCHOOL LEADERSHIP TEAM FOR EACH COVERED
SCHOOL SITE OF THIRTEEN TO FIFTEEN PEOPLE WHICH SHALL INCLUDE: THE PRIN-
CIPAL, ONE COMMUNITY-BASED PARTNER, AT LEAST THREE PARENTS OR GUARDIANS
WITH AT LEAST ONE STUDENT CURRENTLY ENROLLED IN THE SCHOOL, SELECTED BY
THE PARENT BODY, AT LEAST THREE TEACHERS SELECTED THROUGH A PROCESS
ESTABLISHED BY THEIR RESPECTIVE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING UNITS, ONE SCHOOL
EMPLOYEE INCLUDING A GUIDANCE COUNSELOR, SOCIAL WORKER OR SCHOOL NURSE
SELECTED THROUGH A PROCESS ESTABLISHED BY THEIR RESPECTIVE COLLECTIVE
BARGAINING UNITS, AT LEAST TWO COMMUNITY MEMBERS, TWO STUDENTS, CURRENT-
LY ENROLLED AT THE COVERED SCHOOL AND ELECTED BY THE STUDENT BODY, IF
THE GRANTEE IS A HIGH SCHOOL AND TWO REPRESENTATIVES FROM INSTITUTIONS
OF HIGHER EDUCATION SELECTED, IF APPLICABLE, THROUGH A PROCESS ESTAB-
LISHED BY THEIR RESPECTIVE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING UNITS. THE SCHOOL LEAD-
ERSHIP TEAM SHALL CONDUCT A COMPREHENSIVE NEEDS ASSESSMENT OF THE SCHOOL
AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITY. THE SCHOOL LEADERSHIP TEAM SHALL ALSO DEVELOP
A SHARED VISION FOR THE SCHOOL WITH THE SCHOOL AND LOCAL COMMUNITY
THROUGH A COMMUNITY SCHOOL ACTION PLAN THAT INCLUDES TANGIBLE SHORT-TERM
CHANGES AND THREE- TO FIVE-YEAR REFORM OBJECTIVES AND MEETS THE REQUIRE-
MENTS OF SUBPARAGRAPH (III) OF THIS PARAGRAPH.
(A) THE SCHOOL LEADERSHIP TEAM SHALL HOLD AT LEAST TWO PUBLIC HEARINGS
AS PART OF ITS COMPREHENSIVE NEEDS ASSESSMENT AND COMMUNITY SCHOOL
ACTION PLAN DEVELOPMENT PROCESS FOR THE PURPOSE OF SOLICITING PUBLIC
INPUT AND SHALL TAKE ADDITIONAL STEPS TO SOLICIT PUBLIC INPUT AS IT
DEEMS APPROPRIATE.
(B) THE SCHOOL LEADERSHIP TEAM SHALL ALSO MAKE A PUBLIC PRESENTATION
OF THE COMMUNITY SCHOOL ACTION PLAN STATING HOW IT ADDRESSES STUDENT,
COMMUNITY AND SCHOOL NEEDS. SUCH PRESENTATION SHALL INCLUDE THE OPPORTU-
NITY FOR PUBLIC FEEDBACK AND INPUT ON THE COMMUNITY SCHOOL ACTION PLAN.
(C) THE SCHOOL LEADERSHIP TEAM SHALL ISSUE ANNUAL RECOMMENDATIONS TO
SCHOOL LEADERSHIP AND THE LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT. SUCH SCHOOL LEADERSHIP
TEAM REPORTS AND THE COMMUNITY SCHOOL ACTION PLAN SHALL BE MADE AVAIL-
ABLE TO THE PUBLIC ON THE SCHOOL'S AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT'S WEBSITES
AND SHALL BE PROVIDED TO THE LEGISLATURE;
(II) THE HIRING OF A RESOURCE COORDINATOR TO COORDINATE SERVICES AT
EACH COVERED SCHOOL SITE. A GRANTEE PROPOSING TO COVER MORE THAN ONE
S. 300 4
SCHOOL SHALL ALSO HIRE A PROGRAM DIRECTOR TO COORDINATE ACTIVITIES
ACROSS SCHOOL SITES. RESOURCE COORDINATORS AND PROGRAM DIRECTORS SHALL
WORK WITH SCHOOL LEADERSHIP AND THE SCHOOL LEADERSHIP TEAM TO DELIVER
PROGRAMS AND SERVICES; AND
(III) THE SUBMISSION TO THE DEPARTMENT OF A COMMUNITY SCHOOL ACTION
PLAN FOR EACH COVERED SCHOOL THAT INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING:
(A) THE COMPREHENSIVE NEEDS ASSESSMENT OF THE SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY AS
REPORTED BY THE SCHOOL LEADERSHIP TEAM;
(B) A PLAN TO IMPLEMENT A RESTORATIVE JUSTICE MODEL DESIGNED TO REDUCE
SUSPENSIONS. FOR PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, "RESTORATIVE JUSTICE" SHALL
MEAN SCHOOL DISCIPLINE POLICIES THAT SHALL REDUCE SUSPENSIONS, ADDRESS
THE CAUSES OF STUDENT MISBEHAVIOR AND REPLACE PUNITIVE APPROACHES WITH
ALTERNATIVE METHODS THAT FOCUS ON CONFLICT RESOLUTION SKILLS, BUILDING
POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS, USING RESTORATIVE PRACTICES, AND CREATING
COLLABORATION AMONG TEACHERS, PARENTS AND STUDENTS;
(C) A PLAN TO PROVIDE A MINIMUM OF FOUR OF THE FOLLOWING COMMUNITY
SCHOOL PROGRAMS:
(1) EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION;
(2) ACADEMIC SUPPORT AND ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING EXPANDED
LEARNING TIME;
(3) SUMMER OR AFTER-SCHOOL ENRICHMENT AND LEARNING EXPERIENCES;
(4) PROGRAMS UNDER THE HEAD START ACT, INCLUDING EARLY HEAD START
PROGRAMS;
(5) TEACHER HOME VISITING AND/OR HOME VISITATION SERVICES BY OTHER
PROFESSIONALS;
(6) PROGRAMS THAT PROMOTE PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT AND FAMILY LITERACY,
INCLUDING THE READING FIRST AND EARLY READING FIRST PROGRAMS AUTHORIZED
UNDER PART B OF TITLE I OF THE ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION ACT OF
1965 (20 U.S.C. 6361 ET SEQ.);
(7) MENTORING AND OTHER YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS, INCLUDING PEER
MENTORING AND CONFLICT MEDIATION;
(8) PARENT LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES;
(9) PARENTING EDUCATION ACTIVITIES;
(10) CHILD CARE SERVICES;
(11) COMMUNITY SERVICE AND SERVICE-LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES;
(12) PROGRAMS THAT PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO STUDENTS WHO HAVE BEEN
TRUANT, SUSPENDED, OR EXPELLED;
(13) JOB TRAINING, INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES, AND CAREER COUNSELING
SERVICES;
(14) ADULT EDUCATION, INCLUDING INSTRUCTION IN ENGLISH AS A SECOND
LANGUAGE;
(15) JUVENILE CRIME PREVENTION AND REHABILITATION PROGRAMS;
(16) SPECIALIZED INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT SERVICES;
(17) HOMELESS PREVENTION SERVICES; OR
(18) OTHER PROGRAMMING DESIGNED TO MEET SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY NEEDS
IDENTIFIED THROUGH THE SCHOOL LEADERSHIP TEAM; AND
(D) A PLAN TO PROVIDE FOR SCHOOL-BASED HEALTH SERVICES INCLUDING
PRIMARY HEALTH CARE, DENTAL CARE, NUTRITION SERVICES AND MENTAL,
EMOTIONAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES AT THE COVERED SCHOOL OR
SCHOOLS.
C. GRANTEES THAT HAVE DEMONSTRATED READINESS TO BEGIN OPERATION OF A
SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY SCHOOL PROGRAM SHALL BE AWARDED THE COMMUNITY
SCHOOLS OPERATIONAL GRANT FOR THE TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-FOUR--TWO THOUSAND
TWENTY-FIVE SCHOOL YEAR. THE COMMISSIONER IS HEREBY AUTHORIZED TO AWARD
OPERATIONAL GRANTS OF NOT MORE THAN FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS PER
S. 300 5
SCHOOL FOR EACH YEAR OF THE FIVE-YEAR GRANT PERIOD. OPERATIONAL GRANTS
SHALL SUPPLEMENT EXISTING SERVICES AND FUNDS.
D. THE COMMISSIONER SHALL CONTRACT WITH A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION WITH
A SUCCESSFUL TRACK RECORD OF SUPPORTING COMMUNITY SCHOOLS TO PROVIDE
TECHNICAL SUPPORT AND ASSISTANCE TO THE SCHOOL AND THE SCHOOL LEADERSHIP
TEAM IN ORDER TO ENSURE THE SUCCESSFUL DESIGN, PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTA-
TION OF THIS PROGRAM.
4. A. EVERY GRANTEE SHALL FILE AN ANNUAL REPORT WITH THE COMMISSIONER,
IN SUCH FORM AND WITH SUCH DATA AS THE COMMISSIONER PRESCRIBES DETAILING
THE EXPENDITURE OF GRANT FUNDS, TOGETHER WITH AN ANALYSIS OF THE
SCHOOL'S EFFORTS TO INTEGRATE COMMUNITY SCHOOL PROGRAMMING AT EACH
COVERED SCHOOL SITE, CHALLENGES ENCOUNTERED, THE IMPACT OF SUCH PROGRAM-
MING ON PARTICIPATING CHILDREN AND ADULTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR
IMPROVEMENT. SUCH REPORT SHALL ALSO DOCUMENT THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS
RECEIVING SERVICES, RETENTION RATES, ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT, LOCAL FISCAL
SAVINGS AND INCREASED ACCESS TO SERVICES. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL EVALUATE
SUCH REPORTS AND AGGREGATE THE DATA PROVIDED.
B. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL REPORT ANNUALLY ON THE OPERATION AND EFFEC-
TIVENESS OF THE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS GRANT PROGRAM TO THE GOVERNOR, THE
TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND THE SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY BEGIN-
NING ONE YEAR AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SECTION. SUCH REPORT
SHALL DETAIL THE IMPACT OF COMMUNITY SCHOOLS STATEWIDE AND INCLUDE ANAL-
YSIS OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF IMPLEMENTING COMMUNITY SCHOOL ACTION PLANS,
IDENTIFY ANY FEDERAL, STATE, OR LOCAL LAW IMPEDING SUCH IMPLEMENTATION,
THE DEGREE TO WHICH THERE HAS BEEN AN INCREASE IN AVAILABLE SERVICES AND
AN ANALYSIS OF COST-SAVINGS IN AREAS INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO PUBLIC
HEALTH, SAFETY AND EDUCATION. DATA IN THE REPORT SHALL BE MADE AVAILABLE
TO THE PUBLIC IN MACHINE-READABLE FORMATS AND SUCH REPORT SHALL BE MADE
PUBLICLY AVAILABLE AT COVERED SCHOOL SITES AND ON THE DEPARTMENT'S
WEBSITE.
5. NO MODIFICATION OF ANY COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT SHALL BE
MADE, NOR SHALL ANY NEW TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT BE ESTAB-
LISHED, EXCEPT THROUGH NEGOTIATIONS PURSUANT TO ARTICLE FOURTEEN OF THE
CIVIL SERVICE LAW.
§ 3. The sum of two hundred fifty million dollars ($250,000,000), or
so much thereof as may be necessary, is hereby appropriated to the
education department from any moneys in the state treasury in the gener-
al fund to the credit of the local assistance account not otherwise
appropriated, and made immediately available, for the purpose of carry-
ing out the provisions of this act for the 2023-2024 school year. Such
sum shall be payable on the audit and warrant of the state comptroller
on vouchers certified or approved by the commissioner of education, or
his or her duly designated representative, in the manner prescribed by
law.
§ 4. This act shall take effect immediately.
