Report Title:

Twenty-First Century Community Learning Centers; DOE; Education

 

Description:

Establishes the 21st century community learning centers program to assist the DOE in converting existing A-Plus (afterschool) programs into community learning centers through the provision of technical assistance and competitive grants.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

2080

TWENTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2002

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

relating to twenty-first century community learning centers.

 

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

SECTION 1. (a) There is established within the department of education for administrative purposes, the twenty-first century community learning centers program. The purpose of the program shall be to assist the department of education in converting existing A-Plus (afterschool) programs into twenty-first century community learning centers through the provision of technical assistance and competitive grants.

For the purposes of this Act, the term "community learning center" means an entity within a public elementary, middle, or high school building that:

(1) Provides educational, recreational, health, and social service programs for residents of all ages within a community; and

(2) Is operated by the department of education in conjunction with county and state agencies, businesses, vocational education programs, institutions of higher education, community colleges, and cultural, recreational, and other community and human service entities.

(b) The purpose of twenty-first century community learning centers shall be to provide activities that offer significant expanded learning opportunities for children and youth in the community, and that contribute to reduced drug use and violence. The goal of twenty-first century community learning centers shall be to:

(1) Open the schools and expand opportunities for learning during out-of-school hours to children, parents, and the community so each school becomes a safe, healthy, drug-free community center;

(2) Give youth and community members enriched learning opportunities and increase the well-being of the community by reducing the number of children in or at risk for alcohol, drug abuse, and violence;

(3) Engage and collaborate with school staff and community organizations to provide and sustain services to the community;

(4) Improve the behavior, school attendance, and academic achievement of youth; and increase the proportion of children who meet or exceed State standards in core academic subjects by at least ten per cent per year; and

(5) Focus support on children in early adolescence, while including children and adults of all ages in culturally empowering ways, with access and opportunity regardless of disability or other diversity.

(c) In addition to providing activities that offer significant expanded learning opportunities for children and youth in the community, and that contribute to reduced drug use and violence, twenty-first century community learning centers shall provide not less than four of the following activities:

(1) Literacy education programs;

(2) Senior citizen programs;

(3) Children's day care services;

(4) Integrated education, health, social service, recreational, or cultural programs;

(5) Summer and weekend school programs in conjunction with recreation programs;

(6) Nutrition and health programs;

(7) Expanded library service hours to serve community needs;

(8) Telecommunications and technology education programs for individuals of all ages;

(9) Parenting skills education programs;

(10) Support and training for child day care providers;

(11) Employment counseling, training, and placement;

(12) Services for individuals who leave school before graduating from secondary school, regardless of the age of the individual; and

(13) Services for individuals with disabilities.

(d) First priority shall be given to the ongoing operation of twenty-first century community learning centers in existence prior to July 1, 2002. Second priority shall be given to the conversion of existing A-Plus (afterschool) programs located in rural and inner-city communities that have low achieving students and high rates of juvenile crime, school violence, and student drug abuse. Third priority shall be given to existing or new A-Plus (afterschool) programs located in Title I schools. Fourth priority shall be given to rural and inner-city communities with high proportions of latchkey children. Fifth priority shall be given to the expansion of twenty-first century community learning centers in existence prior to July 1, 2002.

(e) Applications for technical assistance and grant moneys shall be evaluated using the following criteria:

(1) The extent to which the proposed center will provide services or otherwise address the needs of students at risk of educational failure;

(2) The extent to which the goals, objectives, and outcomes to be achieved by the proposed center are clearly specified and measurable;

(3) The extent to which the design of the proposed center is appropriate to, and will successfully address, the needs of the target population or other identified needs;

(4) The extent to which the proposed center will establish linkages with other appropriate agencies and organizations providing services to the target population;

(5) The adequacy of support, including facilities, equipment, supplies, and other resources, from the applicant organization or the lead applicant organization;

(6) The extent to which the costs are reasonable in relation to the number of persons to be served and to the anticipated results and benefits;

(7) The adequacy of the management plan to achieve the objectives of the proposed center on time and within budget, including clearly defined responsibilities, timelines, and milestones for accomplishing center tasks;

(8) How the applicant will ensure that a diversity of perspectives are brought to bear in the operation of the proposed center, including those of parents, teachers, the business community, a variety of disciplinary and professional fields, recipients or beneficiaries of services, or others, as appropriate; and

(9) The extent to which the methods of evaluation include the use of objective performance measures that are clearly related to the intended outcomes of the center and will produce quantitative and qualitative data to the extent possible.

(f) Grantees shall submit an annual performance report to the department of education that describes center activities, accomplishments, and outcomes. The purposes of the report shall be to demonstrate that substantial progress has been made toward meeting the objectives of the center as outlined in the grant application; and to collect data that addresses the performance indicators for the twenty-first century community learning centers program.

The department of education shall submit a report to the legislature concerning the performance indicators for the twenty-first century community learning centers program. The report shall be submitted not less than twenty days prior to the convening of each regular session.

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $        , or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2002-2003, to carry out the purposes of this Act, including the hiring of necessary staff. The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of education.

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2002.

INTRODUCED BY:

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