S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
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                                  10537

                          I N  A S S E M B L Y

                              May 31, 2016
                               ___________

Introduced  by  M. of A. FAHY -- read once and referred to the Committee
  on Education

AN ACT relating to converting priority schools into  community  schools;
  to repeal section 211-f of the education law, relating to takeover and
  restructuring failing schools; 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. Section 211-f of the education law is REPEALED.
  S 2. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, rule,  or  regulation
to the contrary, all schools identified by the commissioner of education
of  the state of New York as a priority school shall be converted into a
community school to provide expanded health, mental  health,  and  other
services  to the students and their families pursuant to a plan approved
by the commissioner of education based on  a  comprehensive  school  and
community needs assessment. Furthermore, a community school shall mean a
school  that partners with one or more agencies with an integrated focus
on rigorous academics and the fostering of  a  positive  and  supportive
learning  environment,  and  a  range  of school-based and school-linked
programs and services that lead to improved student  learning,  stronger
families,  and  healthier  communities.  School  districts shall convert
priority schools into community schools pursuant to this act during  the
2016-2017 school year.
  S  3. The sum of seventy-five million dollars ($75,000,000), is hereby
appropriated to the state education department out of any monies in  the
state  treasury  in the general fund to the credit of the state purposes
account not otherwise appropriated. Such monies shall be payable on  the
audit  and  warrant of the comptroller on vouchers certified or approved
by the state education department to fund  grants  to  school  districts
which  are  converting  schools to community schools pursuant to section
two of this act for the purpose of funding the costs of such  conversion
and  the  operating costs associated with a community school. Such funds
appropriated herein shall be used to pay  grants  to  qualifying  school
districts in the 2016-2017 school year.

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD15311-01-6
              

A. 10537                            2

  S  4. The sum of one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000), is hereby
appropriated to the state education department out of any monies in  the
state  treasury  in the general fund to the credit of the state purposes
account not otherwise appropriated. Such monies shall be payable on  the
audit  and  warrant of the comptroller on vouchers certified or approved
by the state education department to fund  grants  to  school  districts
which  are  converting  schools to community schools pursuant to section
two of this act for the purpose of funding the costs of such  conversion
and  the  operating costs associated with a community school. Such funds
appropriated herein shall be used to pay  grants  to  qualifying  school
districts in the 2017-2018 school year.
  S 5. This act shall take effect immediately.