NOTE: This bill has been prepared for the signatures of the appropriate legislative officers and the Governor. To determine whether the Governor has signed the bill or taken other action on it, please consult the legislative status sheet, the legislative history, or the Session Laws. SENATE BILL 13-193 BY SENATOR(S) Hudak, Todd, Giron, Heath, Kerr, Ulibarri, Carroll, Jones, Newell, Nicholson, Schwartz, Steadman, Tochtrop, Morse; also REPRESENTATIVE(S) Kraft-Tharp, Duran, Fischer, Ginal, Hullinghorst, Labuda, Lebsock, Melton, Mitsch Bush, Rosenthal, Salazar, Schafer. Concerning increasing parent engagement in public schools, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado: SECTION 1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 22-11-302, amend (1) introductory portion, (1) (e), and (1) (f); and add (1) (g) as follows: 22-11-302. School district accountability committee - powers and duties. (1) Each school district accountability committee shall have has the following powers and duties: (e) To consider input and recommendations from the school accountability committee of each school of the school district to facilitate the evaluation of the performance of the school's principal for the purposes of article 9 of this title; and (f) To provide input to the local school board concerning the creation and enforcement of its school conduct and discipline code; and (g) To increase the level of parent engagement in the school district and in the public schools of the school district, especially the engagement of parents of students in the populations described in section 22-11-301 (3). The committee's activities to increase parent engagement must include, but need not be limited to: (I) Publicizing opportunities to serve and soliciting parents to serve on the school district accountability committee and school accountability committees. In soliciting parents to serve on the school district and school accountability committees, the school district accountability committee shall direct the outreach efforts to help ensure that the parents who serve on the district and school accountability committees reflect the student populations that are significantly represented within the school district and the school, as provided in section 22-11-301 (3). (II) Assisting the school district in implementing the parent engagement policy adopted by the local school board pursuant to section 22-32-142; and (III) Assisting school personnel to increase parents' engagement with educators, including but not limited to parents' engagement in creating students' READ plans pursuant to part 12 of article 7 of this title, in creating individual career and academic plans pursuant to section 22-32-109 (1) (oo), and in creating plans to address habitual truancy pursuant to section 22-33-107 (3). SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 22-11-402, amend (1) introductory portion; and add (1) (f), (1) (g), and (1) (h) as follows: 22-11-402. School accountability committee - powers and duties - meetings. (1) Each school accountability committee shall have has the following powers and duties: (f) To publicize and hold a public school accountability committee meeting pursuant to section 22-32-142 (2) or 22-30.5-520 (2) to discuss strategies to include in a public school priority improvement or turnaround plan; (g) To publicize a public hearing held pursuant to section 22-32-142 (2) or 22-30.5-520 (2) to review a written public school priority improvement or turnaround plan. A member of the school accountability committee is encouraged to attend the public hearing. (h) To increase the level of parent engagement in the school, especially the engagement of parents of students in the populations described in section 22-11-401 (1) (d). The committee's activities to increase parent engagement must include, but need not be limited to: (I) Publicizing opportunities to serve and soliciting parents to serve on the school accountability committee. In soliciting parents to serve on the school accountability committee, the school accountability committee shall direct the outreach efforts to help ensure that the parents who serve on the school accountability committee reflect the student populations that are significantly represented within the school, as provided in section 22-11-401 (1) (d). (II) Assisting the school district in implementing at the school the parent engagement policy adopted by the local school board pursuant to section 22-32-142; and (III) Assisting school personnel to increase parents' engagement with teachers, including but not limited to parents' engagement in creating students' READ plans pursuant to part 12 of article 7 of this title, in creating individual career and academic plans pursuant to section 22-32-109 (1) (oo) or 22-30.5-525, and in creating plans to address habitual truancy pursuant to section 22-33-107 (3). SECTION 3. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 22-11-404, amend (1) (b) and (2) (b) as follows: 22-11-404. School improvement plan - contents. (1) (b) The school accountability committee for the district public school shall advise the principal concerning preparation of the school improvement plan and shall make recommendations to the principal concerning the contents of the school improvement plan. The principal, with the approval of the superintendent or his or her designee, shall create and adopt the school improvement plan, taking into account the advice and recommendations of the school accountability committee. Prior to adopting the school improvement plan, the principal shall hold a public hearing to review the plan as required in section 22-32-142 (2). (2) (b) The school accountability committee for the institute charter school shall advise the principal concerning preparation of the school improvement plan and shall make recommendations to the principal concerning the contents of the school improvement plan. The principal shall create and adopt the school improvement plan, taking into account the advice and recommendations of the school accountability committee. Prior to adopting the school improvement plan, the principal shall hold a public hearing to review the plan as required in section 22-30.5-520 (2). SECTION 4. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 22-11-405, amend (1) (b), (2) (b), (4) introductory portion, and (4) (e); and add (4) (e.5) as follows: 22-11-405. School priority improvement plan - contents. (1) (b) The school accountability committee for the district public school shall hold a public meeting as required in section 22-32-142 (2) to receive input concerning possible strategies to be included in the school priority improvement plan, advise the local school board concerning preparation of the school priority improvement plan, and shall make recommendations to the local school board concerning the contents of the school priority improvement plan, taking into account recommendations received at the public meeting. The local school board shall create and adopt the school priority improvement plan, taking into account the advice and recommendations of the school accountability committee. Prior to Before adopting the school priority improvement plan, the local school board shall hold a public hearing to review the written plan as required in section 22-32-142 (2). (2) (b) The school accountability committee for the institute charter school shall hold a public meeting as required in section 22-30.5-520 (2) to receive input concerning possible strategies to be included in the school priority improvement plan, advise the institute concerning preparation of the school priority improvement plan, and shall make recommendations to the institute concerning the contents of the school priority improvement plan, taking into account recommendations received at the public meeting. The institute shall create and adopt the school priority improvement plan, taking into account the advice and recommendations of the school accountability committee. Prior to Before adopting the school priority improvement plan, the institute shall hold a public hearing to review the written plan as required in section 22-30.5-520 (2). (4) A school priority improvement plan shall must be designed to ensure that the public school improves its performance to the extent that, following completion of the public school's next annual performance review, the public school attains a higher accreditation category. At a minimum, a school priority improvement plan shall must: (e) Identify the local, state, and federal resources that the public school will use to implement the identified strategies with fidelity; and (e.5) Incorporate strategies to increase parent engagement in the public school; and SECTION 5. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 22-11-406, amend (1) (b), (2) (b), (3) introductory portion, and (3) (e); and add (3) (e.5) as follows: 22-11-406. School turnaround plan - contents. (1) (b) The school accountability committee for the district public school shall hold a public meeting as required in section 22-32-142 (2) to receive input concerning possible strategies to be included in the school turnaround plan, advise the local school board concerning preparation of the school turnaround plan, and shall make recommendations to the local school board concerning the contents of the school turnaround plan taking into account recommendations received at the public meeting. The local school board shall create and adopt the school turnaround plan, taking into account the advice and recommendations of the school accountability committee. Prior to Before adopting the school turnaround plan, the local school board shall hold a public hearing to review the written plan as required in section 22-32-142 (2). (2) (b) The school accountability committee for the institute charter school shall hold a public meeting as required in section 22-30.5-520 (2) to receive input concerning possible strategies to be included in the school turnaround plan, advise the institute concerning preparation of the school turnaround plan, and shall make recommendations to the institute concerning the contents of the school turnaround plan, taking into account recommendations received at the public meeting. The institute shall create and adopt the school turnaround plan, taking into account the advice and recommendations of the school accountability committee. Prior to Before adopting the school turnaround plan, the institute shall hold a public hearing to review the written plan as required in section 22-30.5-520 (2). (3) A school turnaround plan shall must be designed to ensure that the public school improves its performance to the extent that, following completion of the public school's next annual performance review, the public school attains a higher accreditation category. At a minimum, a school turnaround plan shall must: (e) Identify the local, state, and federal resources that the public school will use to implement the identified strategies with fidelity; and (e.5) Incorporate strategies to increase parent engagement in the public school; and SECTION 6. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 22-7-303, amend (6) as follows: 22-7-303. Colorado state advisory council for parent involvement in education - created - membership. (6) The council members shall serve without compensation and without reimbursement for expenses but may receive reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses incurred in performing their duties pursuant to this part 3, including but not limited to expenses incurred in providing a regional training program pursuant to section 22-7-304 (3). SECTION 7. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 22-7-304, add (3), (4), and (5) as follows: 22-7-304. Council - advisory duties - technical assistance - report. (3) (a) The council shall provide training and other resources designed to help the school district accountability committees and school accountability committees increase the level of parent engagement with the public schools and with school districts, including increasing the number of parents serving on school district accountability committees and school accountability committees. (b) The council shall work with the department to provide regional training programs for school district accountability committees and school accountability committees. At a minimum, the training programs must address parent leadership and increasing parent engagement with school district accountability committees and school accountability committees, including best practices for parent engagement with school district accountability committees and school accountability committees. (c) The council shall work with the department to provide regional training programs for school districts and charter schools concerning best practices and skills for district and school personnel in working with parents. (4) The council, in consultation with the department of education and the department of higher education, shall identify key indicators of successful parent engagement in education and use the indicators to develop recommendations for methods by which the department of education and the department of higher education may measure and monitor the level of parent engagement with elementary and secondary public schools and with institutions of higher education in Colorado. (5) On or before December 31, 2013, and on or before December 31 each year thereafter, the council shall report to the state board, the Colorado commission on higher education, and the education committees of the senate and the house of representatives, or any successor committees, the council's progress in promoting parent engagement in the state and in fulfilling the duties specified in this section. SECTION 8. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 22-32-142, amend (1) and (2) as follows: 22-32-142. Parent engagement - policy - communications - incentives. (1) (a) Each school district board of education is encouraged to shall adopt a district policy for increasing and supporting parent involvement engagement in the public schools, including charter schools, of the school district. In adopting the policy, the board of education may take into account, but need not be limited to, the best practices and strategies identified pursuant to section 22-7-304 by the Colorado state advisory council for parent involvement in education and the national standards for family-school partnerships, as defined in section 22-7-302 (5). The board of education is encouraged to shall work with the parent members of the district accountability committee in creating, adopting, and implementing the policy. (b) As part of the district parent engagement policy, a district is encouraged to provide training concerning best practices and skills for district and school personnel in working with parents. (c) Each school district shall identify an employee of the district to act as the point of contact for parent engagement training and resources. The identified person shall also serve as the liaison between the district, the district accountability committee, the Colorado state advisory council for parent involvement in education, and the department of education and shall facilitate the district's efforts to increase parent involvement within the district. The school district shall submit to the department of education the name of the identified employee. (2) (a) If the state board of education, pursuant to section 22-11-210, determines that a school of the school district is required to adopt and implement a school improvement plan as described in section 22-11-404, a school priority improvement plan as described in section 22-11-405 or a school turnaround plan as described in section 22-11-406, the school district, within thirty days after receiving the initial notice of the determination or, if the determination is appealed, the final notice of the determination, shall notify the parents of the students enrolled in the school of the required plan and the issues identified by the department of education as giving rise to the need for the required plan. The notice shall also include the timeline for developing and adopting the required plan and the date, time, and location of a public hearing held by the school principal or the district board of education, whichever is responsible for adopting the plan dates, times, and locations of the public meeting described in paragraph (b) of this subsection (2) and the public hearing described in paragraph (c) of this subsection (2). (b) The school accountability committee shall hold a public meeting to solicit input from parents concerning the contents of the required plan before the plan is written. At the school accountability committee's public meeting, the school principal shall review the school's progress in implementing its plan for the preceding year and in improving its performance. (c) The school district board of education shall hold a public hearing after the plan is written to review the required plan prior to final adoption. At the public hearing, the school principal or the district board of education shall also review the school's progress in implementing its plan for the preceding year and in improving its performance. The date of the public hearing shall be at least thirty days after the date on which the school district provides the written notice. A member of the school accountability committee is encouraged to attend the public hearing. SECTION 9. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 22-30.5-520, amend (1) and (2) as follows: 22-30.5-520. Parent engagement - policy - communications - incentives. (1) (a) The state charter school institute board is encouraged to shall adopt a policy for increasing and supporting parent involvement engagement in institute charter schools. In adopting the policy, the institute board may take into account, but need not be limited to, the best practices and strategies identified pursuant to section 22-7-304 by the Colorado state advisory council for parent involvement in education and the national standards for family-school partnerships, as defined in section 22-7-302 (5). (b) As part of the institute's parent engagement policy, the institute is encouraged to provide training concerning best practices and skills for institute and school personnel in working with parents. (c) The institute shall identify an employee to act as the point of contact for parent engagement training and resources. The identified person shall also serve as the liaison between the institute, the Colorado state advisory council for parent involvement in education, and the department of education and shall facilitate the institute's efforts to increase parent involvement within institute charter schools. The institute shall submit to the department the name of the identified employee. (2) (a) If the state board of education, pursuant to section 22-11-210, determines that an institute charter school is required to adopt and implement a school improvement plan as described in section 22-11-404, a school priority improvement plan as described in section 22-11-405 or a school turnaround plan as described in section 22-11-406, the institute charter school, within thirty days after receiving the initial notice of the determination or, if the determination is appealed, the final notice of the determination, shall notify the parents of the students enrolled in the school of the required plan and the issues identified by the department of education as giving rise to the need for the required plan. The notice shall also include the timeline for developing and adopting the required plan and the date, time, and location of a public hearing to be held by the institute charter school or the institute, whichever is responsible for adopting the plan dates, times, and locations of the public meeting described in paragraph (b) of this subsection (2) and the public hearing described in paragraph (c) of this subsection (2). (b) The school accountability committee shall hold a public meeting to solicit input from parents concerning the contents of the required plan before the plan is written. At the school accountability committee's public meeting, the school principal shall review the institute charter school's progress in implementing its plan for the preceding year and in improving its performance. (c) The institute shall hold a public hearing after the plan is written to review the required plan prior to final adoption. At the public hearing, the institute charter school principal or the institute shall also review the institute charter school's progress in implementing its plan for the preceding year and in improving its performance. The institute shall hold the public hearing within the geographic boundaries of the school district in which the institute charter school is located. The date of the public hearing shall must be at least thirty days after the date on which the institute charter school provides the written notice. A member of the school accountability committee is encouraged to attend the public hearing. SECTION 10. Appropriation. (1) In addition to any other appropriation, there is hereby appropriated, out of any moneys in the general fund not otherwise appropriated, to the department of education, for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2013, the sum of $150,093 and 1.0 FTE, or so much thereof as may be necessary, to be allocated to the management and administration division for accountability and improvement planning programs for the implementation of this act as follows: (a) $100,440 and 1.0 FTE for personal services; and (b) $49,653 for operating expenses and other costs. SECTION 11. Safety clause. The general assembly hereby finds, determines, and declares that this act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety. ____________________________ ____________________________ John P. Morse Mark Ferrandino PRESIDENT OF SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE THE SENATE OF REPRESENTATIVES ____________________________ ____________________________ Cindi L. Markwell Marilyn Eddins SECRETARY OF CHIEF CLERK OF THE HOUSE THE SENATE OF REPRESENTATIVES APPROVED________________________________________ _________________________________________ John W. Hickenlooper GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF COLORADO