This webpage describes goals, action steps, and timelines for establishing community partnerships to support digital learning and educational technology.

(1) On or before the second June 1 immediately following the establishment of a new learning community, the learning community coordinating council shall establish at least one elementary learning center for each twenty-five elementary schools in which either at least thirty-five percent of the students attending the school who reside in the attendance area of such school qualify for free or reduced-price lunches or free meals are provided to all students pursuant to the community eligibility provision. The council shall determine how many of the initial elementary learning centers shall be located in each subcouncil district on or before September 1 immediately following the establishment of a new learning community. (2) Each achievement subcouncil shall submit a plan to the learning community coordinating council for any elementary learning center in its subcouncil district and the services to be provided by such elementary learning center. In developing the plan, the achievement subcouncil shall seek input from community resources and collaborate with such resources in order to maximize the available opportunities and the participation of elementary students and their families. An achievement subcouncil may, as part of such plan, recommend services be provided through contracts with, or grants to, entities other than school districts to provide some or all of the services. Such entities may include collaborative groups which may include the participation of a school district. An achievement subcouncil may also, as part of such plan, recommend that the elementary learning center serve as a clearinghouse for recommending programs provided by school districts or other entities and that the elementary learning center assist students in accessing such programs. The plans for the initial elementary learning centers shall be submitted by the achievement subcouncils to the coordinating council on or before January 1 immediately following the establishment of a new learning community. (3) Each elementary learning center shall have at least one facility that is located in an area with a high concentration of poverty. Such facility may be owned or leased by the learning community, or the use of the facility may be donated to the learning community. Programs offered by the elementary learning center may be offered in such facility or in other facilities, including school buildings.

(1) Programs offered by an elementary learning center may be accessed by any elementary-age child who resides in the learning community or any family with an elementary-age child who resides in the learning community. Services to be provided by the elementary learning center shall comply with all applicable state regulations for such services, including, but not limited to, regulations requiring certification of teachers, safety provisions, and compliance with state Standard. Such programs shall be designed to enhance the academic success of elementary students and may include, but are not limited to:

• (a) Summer school, extended-school-day programs, and extended-school-year programs which may be coordinated with programs offered in the schools;
• (b) Literacy centers for providing intensive assistance to elementary-age children and their parents to work on reading skills outside of the school day;
• (c) Computer labs;
• (d) Tutors for elementary students;
• (e) Mentors for elementary students;
• (f) Services for transient students;
• (g) Attendance advocates to assist in resolving issues that contribute to truancy;
• (h) Transportation for truant students;
• (i) English classes for parents and other family members;
• (j) Health services;
• (k) Mental health services;
• (l) Child care for children of parents working on their own literacy skills or working with their children on academic skills at the center;
• (m) Nutritional services for families working on skills at the center;
• (n) Transportation for participating families;
• (o) Distribution of clothing and school supplies;
• (p) Information on other resources to assist participating families; and
• (q) Interpreter services for educational needs.

(2) Each elementary learning center shall report the participation of elementary students in academic programs offered by or in collaboration with the center to the elementary schools attended by such students.