2003 SESSION

03-0832

04/10

SENATE BILL 124

COMMITTEE: Education

ANALYSIS

This bill establishes a family-community involvement program in the department of education for the purpose of promoting and encouraging family and community involvement in public schools.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

03-0832

04/10

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Three

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

1 New Paragraph; Department of Education; Division of Educational Improvement. Amend RSA 21-N:6 by inserting after paragraph VI the following new paragraph:

VII. Administering the family-community involvement program established in RSA 193:38 and providing technical assistance and training to school districts in developing and implementing such program including:

(a) Emphasis on initial and ongoing training of staff, parents, and community members serving on community school advisory councils .

(b) Assist school district officials in the identification of model programs and practices for developing school specific strategies for implementing the standards set forth in RSA 193:38, II.

2 New Subdivision; Family-Community Involvement Program. Amend RSA 193 by inserting after section 37 the following new subdivision:

Family-Community Involvement Program

193:38 Family-Community Involvement Program Established; Purpose.

I. There is hereby established a family-community involvement program in the department of education for the purpose of promoting and encouraging family and community involvement in public schools by assisting school districts in developing an integrated system where administrators, teachers, parents, and community members are partners working collaboratively to improve student achievement.

II. A school district may elect to participate in the family-community involvement program. School districts electing to participate shall adopt family-community involvement standards which shall include the following components:

(a) Assuring regular and meaningful 2-way communication between a student's home and school and between school and community.

(b) Promoting and supporting parenting skills that will contribute to the creation of home environments which will be supportive of children as students.

(c) Ensuring that parents play an integral role in student learning, including information and ideas on how to help students with homework, decision-making, and planning.

(d) Welcoming parents and community members in the schools as volunteers and partners whose support and assistance are a valued part of the educational process.

(e) Ensuring that parents and community members are full partners in the decisions that affect children and families.

(f) Using community resources to strengthen schools, families, and student learning.

III. Any school district may adopt the provision of this subdivision to establish a family-community involvement program in either of the following manners:

(a) By placing a question on the warrant of an annual or special school district meeting. Approval of the question shall require a simple majority. In districts without annual meetings, the legislative body of the school district shall consider and act upon the question in accordance with their current procedures; or

(b) By administrative application to the department of education.

IV. Nothing in this section shall impair, alter, or otherwise modify the duties, rights, and responsibilities of duly elected school board.

193:39 Community School Advisory Councils Established.

I. Each school district participating in the family-community involvement program shall establish a community school advisory council at one or more schools in the school district.

II. Each community school advisory council shall work in collaboration with school district staff and the community toward the improvement of student performance by:

(a) Developing and implementing a framework for the standards adopted under 193:38, II.

(b) Assisting in the development of information structures that provide data to support decision-making.

(c) Submitting an annual report to the school board detailing the status of the program.

III.(a) Each community school advisory council shall be comprised of at least 12 members, no more than 6 of which shall be school staff or administrators and no more than half shall be parents or community members. The council shall include representatives from existing school-parent organizations. One member shall be the principal of the school at which the council is established. One member shall be a non-teaching staff member.

(b) Parent and community members shall be selected by written nomination for appointment by the school board.

(c) Procedures for nomination and election of staff members shall be determined at the local level.

(d) When the council is established at a secondary school, one member shall be a student from that school.

(e) Terms of office and procedures for filling unexpired terms shall be made by the school board of the school at which the council is established.

3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.

LBAO

03-0832

4/7/03

SB 124 FISCAL NOTE

FISCAL IMPACT:

METHODOLOGY: