community schools

community schools Sec. 405. (a) This section may be cited as the “Community Schools Act”. (b) In recognition of the fact that the school, as the prime educational institution of the community, is most effective when the school involves the people of that community in a program designed to fulfill their education needs, and that community education promotes a more efficient use of public education facilities through an extension of school buildings and equipment, it is the purpose of this section to provide educational, recreational, cultural, and other related community services, in accordance with the needs, interests, and concerns of the community, through the establishment of the community education program as a center for such activities in cooperation with other community groups. (c) For purposes of this section and subparagraph (C) of section 402(b)(3), a “community education program” is a program in which a public building, including but not limited to a public elementary or secondary school or a community or junior college, is used as a community center operated in conjunction with other groups in the community, community organizations, and local governmental agencies, to provide educational, recreational, cultural, and other related community services for the community that center serves in accordance with the needs, interests, and concerns of that community. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit any applicant under this section from carrying out any activity with funds derived from other sources. (d) (1) In order to carry out the purposes and provisions of this section, the Commissioner is authorized to make grants to State educational agencies and to local educational agencies to pay the Federal share of the cost of planning, establishing, expanding, and operating community education programs. (2) Fifty percent of the funds made available pursuant to clause (1) of subsection (i) shall be available for grants to State educational agencies. The remainder of such funds shall be available for grants to local educational agencies. (3) For the purpose of paragraph (1) of this subsection, the Federal share shall be— (A) 80 per centum of a program to establish a new community education program. 88 Stat. 550 (B) 65 per centum of a program to expand or improve a community education program for the first year in which such program is assisted under this section, and 55 per centum in any fiscal year thereafter, and (C) 40 per centum of a program to maintain or carry out a community education program. (4) Any State or local educational agency desiring to receive a grant under this section for any fiscal year shall submit an application to the Commissioner at such time, in such manner, and in such form as the Commissioner shall prescribe by regulation. Each such application shall contain provisions— (A) assuring that local community colleges, social, recreational, and health groups will be consulted with respect to programs to be offered and facilities to be used for the purpose of this section; (B) assuring that the applicant will pay from non-Federal sources the remaining costs of carrying out the application; and (C) containing a description of each community education program for which assistance is sought in sufficient detail to apply the appropriate Federal share specified in clause (3) of this subsection. The Commissioner shall not approve an application submitted by a local educational agency unless the State educational agency of the State in which that local educational agency is located has been given an opportunity to review, and make comment on, such application. (e) The Commissioner is authorized to make grants to institutions of higher education to develop and establish, or to expand, programs which will train persons to plan and operate community education programs. (f) (1) The Commissioner shall establish or designate a clearing-house to gather and disseminate information received from community education programs, including but not limited to information regarding new programs, methods to encourage community participation, and ways of coordinating community education programs with other community services. The Commissioner is authorized to contract with public or private agencies or organizations to establish and operate the clearinghouse. (2) The Commissioner shall make available to each community education program such technical assistance and information as the program may require, and such technical assistance shall be coordinated with the national clearinghouse. (g) (1) There is established, subject to part D of the General Education Provisions Act, in the Office of the Commissioner, a Community Education Advisory Council (referred to in this section as the “Advisory Council”) to be composed of eleven members. The members of the Advisory Council shall be appointed by the Secretary. (2) A substantial number of the members of the Advisory Council shall be persons experienced in the operation of community education programs and the training of such persons. The Council shall include representatives from various disciplines involved in providing services in community school programs. (f) (1) The Commissioner shall establish or designate a clearing within three months after enactment of this section. (4) The Commissioner shall make available to the Advisory Council such staff, information, and other assistance as it may require to carry out its activities. (5) The Advisory Council shall advise the Commissioner on policy matters relating to the interests of community schools. 88 Stat. 551 (6) In the fiscal year ending June 30, 1975, the Advisory Council shall be responsible for advising the Commissioner regarding the establishment of policy guidelines and regulations for the operation and administration of this section. In addition, the Council shall create a system for evaluation of the programs. The Council shall present to Congress a complete and thorough evaluation of the programs and operation of this section for each fiscal year ending after June 30, 1975. (h) In approving applications under this section the Commissioner shall insure that there is an equitable geographical distribution of community education programs throughout the United States in both urban and rural areas. (i) The Commissioner is authorized to expend (1) for the purpose of subsection (d), $15,000,000 for each fiscal year ending prior to July 1, 1978; and (2) for the purposes of subsection (e), $2,000,000 for each fiscal year ending prior to July 1, 1978.