This document describes the importance of fostering partnerships with Community-Based Organizations

(12) "Community Partnerships": Collaborations to network resources to assist students to meet state and local Standard and prepare students for post high school transitions. These partnerships include parents, students, business, education, government and community-based organizations.

(1) In addition to those moneys distributed through the State School Fund, the Department of Education shall award grants from the Statewide Education Initiatives Account to school districts to implement the early warning system described in this section that assist students in graduating from high school. (2)

• (a) A system funded by a grant awarded under this section must enable school districts, students, students’ families, educators, school counselors and community organizations to take necessary corrective actions to assist students in graduating from high school. ... (3) The department shall assist school districts that may apply for a grant under this section, that have applied for a grant under this section or that have received a grant under this section, as appropriate, by: ...
• (d) Developing local communication systems among students, students’ families, educators and community organizations to assist students in graduating from high school;
• (e) Identifying and developing interventions at school, at home and in the community to meet students’ needs

(4) The local district continuous improvement plan shall include:

• (a) Goals to implement the following:
• (A) A rigorous curriculum aligned with state Standard;
• (B) High-quality instructional programs;
• (C) Short-term and long-term professional development plans;
• (D) Programs and policies that achieve a safe educational environment;
• (E) A plan for family and community engagement;
• (F) Staff leadership development;
• (G) High-quality data systems;
• (H) Improvement planning that is data-driven;
• (I) Education service plans for students who have or have not exceeded all of the academic content Standard; and
• (J) A strong school library program;
• (b) A review of demographics, student performance, staff characteristics and student access to, and use of, educational opportunities;
• (c) A description of district efforts to achieve local efficiencies and efforts to make better use of resources; and
• (d) A needs assessment, which shall:
• (A) Be conducted in a manner that is inclusive of school employees, students from student groups identified in section 9 (2)(b) of this 2019 Act and parents of those students.
• (B) Address the following priorities:
• (i) Reducing academic disparities for students from student groups identified in section 9 (2)(b) of this 2019 Act;
• (ii) Meeting students’ mental or behavioral health needs;
• (iii) Providing equitable access to academic courses across the school district or public charter school, with specific emphasis on access by students from student groups identified in section 9 (2)(b) of this 2019 Act;
• (iv) Allowing teachers and staff to have sufficient time to:
• (I) Collaborate with other teachers and staff;
• (II) Review data on students’ grades, absences and discipline, based on school and on grade level or course; and
• (III) Develop strategies to ensure that at-risk students stay on track to graduate; and
• (v) Possible partnerships with other organizations, federally recognized Indian tribes, school districts, education service districts, regional achievement collaboratives, postsecondary institutions of education, education partners or nonprofit programs and community-based programs that have demonstrated achievement of positive outcomes in work with students from student groups identified in section 9 (2)(b) of this 2019 Act.

(4)  School districts enter into partnerships with business, labor and other groups to provide workplace-based professional development opportunities for their educational staff; and (5)  School districts enter into partnerships with recreation groups, faith-based organizations, social service and health care agencies, businesses, child care providers and other groups that support children and families to create community learning centers for students, parents and members of the surrounding community.

(1) The Department of Education and the Department of Human Services shall support the development and implementation of a network of community learning centers across the state.

(2) Within available funding, the Early Learning Division, in conjunction with other organizations that provide training and technical assistance to schools or community programs, shall provide training and technical assistance to promote the development and implementation of community learning centers. To the extent possible, the division shall use voluntary organizations to provide the training and technical assistance.

(3) Community learning centers created pursuant to this section shall:

• (a) Be located in or near a school or a cluster of schools;
• (b) Involve parents in the care and education of their children;
• (c) Involve the local community in developing and overseeing community learning center programs;
• (d) Incorporate the principles of family support services described in ORS 329.150 and 417.342;
• (e) In partnership with the local school district board, create or designate an advisory committee to offer guidance on program development and implementation, with membership that is representative of the diversity of community interests, including representatives of businesses, schools, faith-based organizations, social service and health care agencies, cultural groups, recreation groups, municipal governments, community colleges, libraries, child care providers, parents and youths; and
• (f) Conduct an assessment of strengths, needs and assets within the community to be served by the community learning center that identifies services being delivered in the community, defines and clarifies services that are missing or overlapping and builds on any existing community assessments.

(4) The Department of Human Services and the Department of Education shall provide technical assistance to community learning centers to develop policies ensuring that confidential information is disclosed only in accordance with state and federal laws.

(1)  Community learning centers shall promote identification and coordination of existing resources including, but not limited to, the following services and activities:

• (a)  Before-school and after-school enrichment activities linked with the school curriculum;
• (b)  Youth development and service learning activities;
• (c)  Child care programs;
• (d)  Mentoring and tutoring programs;
• (e)  Parent literacy and adult education programs;
• (f)  Prenatal and early childhood support programs;
• (g)  Parent education and support groups;
• (h)  Cultural activities and English language learner programs;
• (i)  School-to-work and workforce development programs;
• (j)  Intergenerational activities connecting senior citizens with children;
• (k)  Referrals for health care and other social and educational services;
• (L)  Primary health care services, including immunizations, sports physicals and well-child checkups; and
• (m)  Counseling services.

(2)  School districts that create community learning centers shall encourage existing family resource centers to become involved in the development and implementation of the community learning centers. An existing family resource center developed under ORS 417.725 may be designated as a community learning center if the family resource center meets the Standard specified in this section and ORS 329.156.

(3)  Community learning centers shall follow best practice Standard to ensure their effectiveness.