STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES S.B. 594:
SUMMARY OF INTRODUCED BILL
IN COMMITTEE
Senate Bill 594 (as introduced 10-22-19)
Sponsor: Senator Wayne Schmidt
Committee: Education and Career Readiness
CONTENT
The bill would amend the Revised School Code to specify certain requirements for a school district, intermediate school district (ISD), or public school academy (PSA) that contract with external entities that provide "integrated student supports" in schools, including necessary elements of the supports.
The bill would take effect 90 days after its enactment.
Integrated Student Supports
The bill states that a school district, ISD, or PSA that contracted with external entities for integrated student supports would be encouraged to ensure that the integrated student supports were provided to pupils and their families by an external community-based organization that acted in partnership with the district, ISD, or PSA. The building level staff and the external community-based organization would be encouraged to work in conjunction with school support staff to do all of the following:
-- Improve the coordination, availability, delivery, and effectiveness of integrated student supports and comprehensive supports, including enhancing learning outcomes for pupils.
-- Act as a liaison with organizations to assist schools in providing pupils and families the integrated supports and comprehensive supports needed to improve student learning and their ability to plan for postsecondary educational and career opportunities, including health services, employment services, mentoring or tutoring, human services, enrichment and accelerated learning opportunities, before- and after-school programs, recreation, and related assistance.
-- Improve communication and coordination between a school and the pupils and families the school served.
"Integrated student supports" would mean a system of wraparound services for students designed to promote academic achievement through targeting both academic and nonacademic barriers to learning. "External community-based organization" would mean an entity comprised of local stakeholders including individuals, groups, businesses, and institutions that share the goal of improving student learning through an integrated focus on academics, health and social services, youth and community development, and community engagement.
A school district, ISD, or PSA that contracted for integrated student supports would be encouraged to ensure that the integrated student supports were provided to pupils and their families by an organization that included community school strategies and that used an
external independently evaluated evidence-based model of integrated student supports that was proven to increase pupil achievement.
"Community school strategies" would mean tactics that include developing a set of partnerships between a school and other community resources with an integrated focus on academics, health and social services, youth and community development, community engagement with the goals of improving student learning, and developing stronger communities and a positive school climate.
The school district, ISD, or PSA also would be encouraged to ensure that integrated student supports supplemented, rather than duplicated, the supports already provided by the district, ISD, or PSA. The supports could include the following:
-- An assessment of pupil and family needs in schools.
-- Placement of site-based staff in the public school building.
-- Enhancement of the social, emotional, intellectual, and physical development of pupils.
-- Provision of training related to integrated student supports to staff, teachers, and as appropriate, parents and community leaders.
-- Linkage of necessary services and comprehensive supports to pupils, their families, and their public schools.
-- Assessment of these services and supports through an evaluated model that has been proven to increase pupil achievement.
Proposed MCL 380.1283 Legislative Analyst: Dana Adams
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would have no fiscal impact on State or local government. The bill would not establish requirements for school districts or PSAs that contracted for integrated student support. However, if a school chose to contract for student supports and implemented the policies listed in the bill, that school could experience additional costs.
This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.