Florida Senate - 2014                                     SB 868
       
       
        
       By Senator Thompson
       
       
       
       
       
       12-01411-14                                            2014868__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to the Reigniting Education
    3         Achievement with Coordinated Help (REACH) Pilot
    4         Program; requiring the Department of Education to
    5         implement the pilot program as a public-private
    6         partnership in low-performing public schools;
    7         specifying services to be offered with the goal of
    8         improving student academic achievement; providing
    9         requirements for implementation of the program;
   10         requiring the department to submit a report to the
   11         Legislature at the conclusion of the program;
   12         requiring the State Board of Education to adopt rules;
   13         providing an effective date.
   14          
   15  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   16  
   17         Section 1. Reigniting Education Achievement with
   18  Coordinated Help (REACH) Pilot Program.—
   19         (1) Beginning in the 2014-2015 school year, the Department
   20  of Education shall implement a 4-year Reigniting Education
   21  Achievement with Coordinated Help (REACH) Pilot Program in three
   22  to five of the state’s lowest-performing traditional public
   23  schools with a large population of low-income, at-risk students.
   24  The Commissioner of Education shall establish criteria for
   25  participation in the program, including the school, health, and
   26  community services to be offered. A school interested in
   27  participating in the program shall submit a letter of interest
   28  to the Commissioner of Education by July 15, 2014.
   29         (2) The program shall consist of a public-private
   30  partnership to supply “wrap-around services” to students
   31  attending the schools, including, but not limited to, tutorial
   32  and after-school programs, student counseling, nutrition
   33  education, health and dental services, parental counseling, and
   34  adult education.
   35         (3) The program shall focus attention on improving academic
   36  achievement through a holistic approach through which students
   37  receive the academic, medical, nutritional, and social supports
   38  they need to develop strong literacy and mathematical skills, as
   39  well as the qualities of responsibility, self-control,
   40  attention, and cooperation. The program shall make available
   41  support services that encourage healthy family dynamics and
   42  home-to-school connections by providing parents with skills and
   43  opportunities to get involved in their children’s education and
   44  help their children succeed in school. The program shall be
   45  based on the following research-driven elements that lead to
   46  student success: improving student achievement and learning,
   47  leveraging community assets and improving school and community
   48  collaboration, improving staff capacity and effectiveness, and
   49  developing family and community partnerships.
   50         (4) The program shall be implemented as follows:
   51         (a) During the first year of operation, a school shall
   52  build partnerships between the school district, the local
   53  teachers union, parents, social service agencies, medical and
   54  dental professionals, community and civic groups, and
   55  businesses; plan services; advertise the program; establish
   56  baseline data; begin offering the services; and report costs and
   57  benefits.
   58         (b) During the second, third, and fourth years of
   59  operation, a school shall continue partnerships; seek input on
   60  and refine services; continue offering the services; monitor the
   61  academic, health, and nutritional progress of students and
   62  families; and report progress, costs, and benefits.
   63         (5) At the conclusion of the pilot program, the Department
   64  of Education shall submit to the President of the Senate and the
   65  Speaker of the House of Representatives a review of the program,
   66  which includes successful practices and the impact on student
   67  performance and success, and shall make a recommendation for
   68  continuing or terminating the program.
   69         (6) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules to
   70  implement this section.
   71         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2014.