A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to establish the transforming poverty schools pilot program.
Whereas, research indicates that children in schools in high‑poverty areas have more needs than their counterparts in schools in wealthier areas; and
Whereas, if children in schools in high‑poverty areas are to succeed academically, their schools must work with State and local government agencies and nonprofits to serve the whole child; Now, therefore,
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.(a)  The Department of Public Instruction shall establish and administer the Transforming Poverty Schools Pilot Program. The pilot program shall focus on high‑poverty schools and shall be designed to create centers that provide a full‑service system of support to students and school communities. These centers may be located in the school or in other settings at which students and the school community can receive services, information, access to computers, and access to a media center. An auxiliary office for a center may be located in a local health department to provide immunizations, vision care, hearing checks, and treatment for minor illnesses. Centers may operate on days and at times when school is not in session.
SECTION 1.(b)  A school is eligible to participate in the pilot program if it meets the following requirements:
(1)	It received an overall school performance grade of F for the 2013‑2014 school year.
(2)	Over eighty‑five percent (85%) of its students qualified for free or reduced‑price lunches for the 2013‑2014 school year.
(3)	The school and the local school administrative unit are committed to providing their employees and other resources to the pilot program.
(4)	Local government resources, including the health department, law enforcement agencies, and social services agencies; local offices of State agencies such as the Departments of Health and Human Services, Insurance, and Public Safety; and nonprofits such as Communities in Schools of North Carolina, Inc., the Nurse Family Partnership, and Legal Aid of North Carolina; are committed to participate in the pilot program.
SECTION 2.  The Department of Public Instruction shall report to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee by January 1, 2017, on the implementation of this pilot program.
SECTION 3.  This act is effective when it becomes law.