Johnson Bill Gives Failing Campuses Two-Plus Years Before Closure

The text as introduced · 618 words

89R4139 AND-F

By: Johnson
S.B. No. 235

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to a public school campus's election under a campus

turnaround plan to operate as a community school.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 39A, Education Code, is

amended by adding Section 39A.1011 to read as follows:

Sec. 39A.1011. CAMPUS TURNAROUND PLAN TO OPERATE AS

COMMUNITY SCHOOL. (a) A campus turnaround plan may permit a campus

to operate as a community school. A plan to operate as a community

school must include, in addition to the other requirements of this

subchapter, strategies and programs to coordinate academic,

social, and health services and reduce barriers to learning through

partnerships and service coordination.

(b) Programs and services offered by a campus operating as a

community school under a campus turnaround plan may include:

(1) early childhood education;

(2) after-school and summer school academic and

enrichment programs;

(3) college and career preparation;

(4) service learning opportunities, such as

internships and community service programs;

(5) leadership and mentoring programs;

(6) activities to encourage community and parent

engagement in students' education;

(7) health and social services for students and their

families; and

(8) parenting classes.

(c) A campus that elects to operate as a community school

under a campus turnaround plan must:

(1) establish a school community partnership team,

composed of the members required for a campus-level planning and

decision-making committee under Section 11.251 and additional

community representatives, to coordinate with the campus

intervention team for the campus;

(2) establish a partnership with a lead organization

that has experience in developing and implementing a community

school plan;

(3) designate a school district employee or an

employee of an organization with experience in developing and

implementing a community school plan as the community school

coordinator for the campus, whose duties must include the

recruitment and coordination of services from community partners;

(4) develop a community school plan that satisfies the

requirements for a campus improvement plan under Section 11.253;

and

(5) obtain approval for the community school plan

from:

(A) at least 75 percent of campus faculty and

staff and 75 percent of parents of students enrolled at the campus;

and

(B) the board of trustees of the school district

in which the campus is located.

SECTION 2. Section 39A.107, Education Code, is amended by

adding Subsection (d) to read as follows:

(d) Notwithstanding Subsection (c), the commissioner may

not order the closure of a campus under this section without giving

the campus the opportunity to operate as a community school under a

campus turnaround plan as provided by Section 39A.1011 and at least

two years to implement the campus's community school plan.

SECTION 3. Section 39A.111, Education Code, is amended to

read as follows:

Sec. 39A.111. CONTINUED UNACCEPTABLE PERFORMANCE RATING.

(a) If a campus is considered to have an unacceptable performance

rating for five consecutive school years, the commissioner, subject

to Section 39A.112, shall order:

(1) appointment of a board of managers to govern the

school district as provided by Section 39A.202; or

(2) closure of the campus.

(b) Notwithstanding Subsection (a), the commissioner may

not order the closure of a campus under this section without giving

the campus the opportunity to operate as a community school under a

campus turnaround plan as provided by Section 39A.1011 and at least

two years to implement the campus's community school plan.

SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives

a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as

provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this

Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this

Act takes effect September 1, 2025.