SB 403: California Community Schools Act.

Existing law authorizes school districts and community college districts, and schools and colleges within those districts, to enter into cooperative or contractual arrangements with business, industry, or elements within the community for improvement of the local educational program.

This bill would establish the California Community Schools Act, which would authorize a local educational agency or school and one or more community partners, as defined, to form a community consortium to establish a California community school, as defined. The bill would require the State Department of Education, Superintendent of Public Instruction, subject to the appropriation by the Legislature of funds in the annual Budget Act or the availability of funds from private sources, to make grants available to qualified recipients to fund California community schools and to enhance programs at California community schools. The bill would establish qualification requirements for grant applicants, and would require grant recipients to comply with specified requirements, including, among others, conducting periodic annual evaluations. The bill would require the California Collaborative for Educational Excellence and the department to provide technical assistance, as specified. The bill would require the department, State Department of Education, on or before November 1, 2019, to report specified information relating to the formation and operation of California community schools to the education policy committees of the Legislature. The bill would also make a conforming change to provisions relating to county community schools.