The purpose of this chapter is to encourage greater community involvement in the public schools and greater community use of public school facilities. To this end it is declared to be the policy of this state:

• (1) To provide for increased involvement by citizens in their local schools through community schools advisory committees.

As used in this chapter, the following words shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

• (1) Community schools advisory committee. — A committee of citizens organized to advise community school coordinators, administrators, and local boards of education in the involvement of citizens in the educational process and in the use of public school facilities.

Every local board of education which elects to apply for funding pursuant to this chapter shall: (1) Develop programs and plans for increased community involvement in the public schools based upon policies and guidelines adopted by the State Board of Education. (2) Develop programs and plans for increased community use of public school facilities based upon policies and guidelines adopted by the State Board of Education. (3) Establish rules governing the implementation of such programs and plans in its public schools and submit these rules along with adopted programs and plans to the State Board of Education for approval by the State Board of Education.

Programs and plans developed by a local board of education shall provide for the establishment of one or more community schools advisory committees for the public schools under the board’s jurisdiction and for the employment of one or more community schools coordinators. The local board of education shall establish the terms and conditions of employment for the community schools coordinators. Every local board of education which elects to apply for funding pursuant to this chapter shall have the authority to enter into agreements with other local boards of education, agencies and institutions for the joint development of plans and programs and the joint expenditure of funds allocated by the State Board of Education. Local funds from each local board of education applying for funds for the community schools program must equal at least one-fourth of the total budget for the community schools program of said local board of education.

Every participating local board of education shall establish one or more community schools advisory committees which may become involved in matters affecting the educational process in accordance with rules established by the local board of education and approved by the State Board of Education and further shall consider ways of increasing community involvement in the public schools and utilization of public school facilities. Community schools advisory committees may assist local boards of education in the development and preparation of the plans and programs to achieve such goals, may assist in the implementation of such plans and programs and may provide such other assistance as may be requested by the local boards of education.

Community schools advisory committees shall work with local school officials and personnel, parent-teacher organizations, and community groups and agencies in providing maximum opportunities for public schools to serve the communities, and shall encourage the maximum use of volunteers in the public schools.

Wherever possible, the local board of education is encouraged to include at least one high school student. The size of the councils and the terms of membership on the councils shall be determined by the local board of education in accordance with the state guidelines.

The role, scope and responsibility of the advisory committees shall be limited to community school matters.

Every participating local board of education shall employ one or more community schools coordinators and shall establish the terms and conditions of their employment. Community schools coordinators shall be responsible for: (1) Providing support to the community schools advisory committees and public school officials. (2) Fostering cooperation between the local board of education and appropriate community agencies. (3) Encouraging maximum use of community volunteers in the public schools. (4) Performing such other duties as may be assigned by the local superintendents and the local board of education, consistent with the purposes of this chapter.

(b) School strategy. — The State Board of Education shall develop an assistance program for a school in need of assistance. A school in need of assistance shall mean any school which has a majority of its students scoring one or more grade levels below the prescribed norm on the state adopted student assessments. Local superintendents and local boards of education will be expected to make the effort and commit the resources necessary to improve the instructional program for a school in need of assistance and shall be required to budget all funds earned by that school in the cost calculations of the foundation program. Local superintendents and local boards of education are encouraged to use assistance from the State Department of Education, colleges of education, accrediting agencies and other sources. The State Board of Education’s plan for an assistance program shall consist of the following components:

• (1) The faculty and staff of each school in need of assistance shall engage in a self-study to examine the problem of low achievement within that school and shall develop steps which may be taken to improve student achievement. Parents of students in the schools shall be consulted as part of this self-study.
• (2) If, after two years, student achievement has not improved, the State Superintendent of Education shall designate a team of practicing professionals to visit the school, conduct a study, consult with parents of students in the school, analyze causes of poor student achievement, and make specific recommendations which shall become a part of a school improvement plan for the succeeding year.