Bill Text: NY A08437 | 2019-2020 | General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: Authorizes the chancellor of the city district to control and operate certain specialized high schools in the city of New York; and directs each school district in the city of New York to provide at least one district gifted and talented program for kindergarten through fifth grade public school students.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-01-08 - referred to education [A08437 Detail]
Download: New_York-2019-A08437-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 8437 2019-2020 Regular Sessions IN ASSEMBLY July 8, 2019 ___________ Introduced by M. of A. WALKER -- read once and referred to the Committee on Education AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to authorizing the chan- cellor of the city district to control and operate certain specialized high schools in the city of New York; and to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to directing each school district in the city of New York to provide at least one district gifted and talented program for kindergarten through fifth grade public school students The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. Section 2590-a of the education law is amended by adding a 2 new subdivision 11 to read as follows: 3 11. Specialized high school admissions test. The term "specialized 4 high school admissions test" shall mean the competitive, objective and 5 scholastic achievement examination required for admission to specialized 6 high schools pursuant to section twenty-five hundred ninety-g of this 7 article as in effect prior to March thirty-first, nineteen hundred nine- 8 ty-seven. 9 § 2. Paragraph (b) of subdivision 1 of section 2590-h of the education 10 law, as amended by chapter 345 of the laws of 2009, is amended to read 11 as follows: 12 (b) all specialized [senior] high schools. 13 (i) The [special] specialized high schools shall include: 14 (A) the present schools known as[:] The Bronx High School of Science, 15 Stuyvesant High School, Brooklyn Technical High School, Fiorello H. 16 LaGuardia High School of Music and the Arts in the borough of Manhattan, 17 Brooklyn Latin School, High School for Math, Science and Engineering at 18 City College, High School for American Studies at Lehman College, Queens 19 High School for Sciences at York College, and Staten Island Technical 20 High School; EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [] is old law to be omitted. LBD13214-01-9A. 8437 2 1 (B) the specialized high schools established pursuant to paragraph (b) 2 of subdivision two of this section; and 3 (C) and such further schools which the city board may designate from 4 time to time. The special schools shall be permitted to maintain a 5 discovery program in accordance with the law in effect on the date 6 preceding the effective date of this section; admissions to the special 7 schools shall be conducted in accordance with the law in effect on the 8 date preceding the effective date of this section; 9 (ii) The chancellor shall establish procedures to ensure that, 10 commencing in the two thousand twenty--two thousand twenty-one academic 11 year and for each academic year thereafter, all eighth grade public 12 school students take the specialized high school admissions test, 13 provided, however, that: 14 (A) the specialized high school admissions test takes place during 15 regular school hours and be given no later than October thirty-first of 16 each academic year; and 17 (B) the procedures shall permit the parent or guardian of an eligible 18 student to opt that student out of the specialized high school admis- 19 sions test, at the parent or guardian's discretion for any reason. 20 § 3. Paragraph (b) of subdivision 1 of section 2590-h of the education 21 law, as amended by chapter 720 of the laws of 1996, is amended to read 22 as follows: 23 (b) all specialized [senior] high schools. 24 (i) The [special] specialized high schools shall include: 25 (A) the present schools known as[:] The Bronx High School of Science, 26 Stuyvesant High School, Brooklyn Technical High School, Fiorello H. 27 LaGuardia High School of Music and the Arts in the borough of Manhattan, 28 Brooklyn Latin School, High School for Math, Science and Engineering at 29 City College, High School for American Studies at Lehman College, Queens 30 High School for Sciences at York College, and Staten Island Technical 31 High School; 32 (B) the specialized high schools established pursuant to paragraph (b) 33 of subdivision two of this section; and 34 (C) and such further schools which the city board may designate from 35 time to time. 36 The special schools shall be permitted to maintain a discovery program 37 in accordance with the law in effect on the date preceding the effective 38 date of this section; admissions to the special schools shall be 39 conducted in accordance with the law in effect on the date preceding the 40 effective date of this section; 41 (ii) The chancellor shall establish procedures to ensure that, 42 commencing in the two thousand twenty--two thousand twenty-one academic 43 year and for each academic year thereafter, all eighth grade public 44 school students take the specialized high school admissions test, 45 provided, however, that: 46 (A) the specialized high school admissions test takes place during 47 regular school hours and be given no later than October thirty-first of 48 each academic year; and 49 (B) the procedures shall permit the parent or guardian of an eligible 50 student to opt that student out of the specialized high school admis- 51 sions test, at the parent or guardian's discretion for any reason. 52 § 4. Subdivision 2 of section 2590-h of the education law, as amended 53 by chapter 345 of the laws of 2009, is amended to read as follows: 54 2. Establish, control and operate new schools or programs of the types 55 specified in subdivision one of this section, or to discontinue any suchA. 8437 3 1 schools and programs as he or she may determine; provided, however, that 2 the chancellor shall [consult]: 3 (a) Consult with the affected community district education council 4 before: 5 [(a)] (i) substantially expanding or reducing such an existing school 6 or program within a community district; 7 [(b)] (ii) initially utilizing a community district school or facility 8 for such a school or program; 9 [(c)] (iii) instituting any new program within a community district. 10 (b) Establish by the two thousand twenty-two--two thousand twenty- 11 three academic year at least ten specialized high schools, in accordance 12 with New York City Chancellor Regulations on specialized high schools, 13 in addition to those specialized high schools identified in clause (A) 14 of subparagraph (i) of paragraph (b) of subdivision one of this section, 15 provided however that the majority of the specialized high schools 16 established pursuant to this paragraph are located in areas that are at 17 least two miles away from any specialized high school identified in 18 clause (A) of subparagraph (i) of paragraph (b) of subdivision one of 19 this section. 20 (c) Establish by the two thousand twenty--two thousand twenty-one 21 academic year a test preparation program available, at no cost, to all 22 public school students in the sixth and seventh grades in connection 23 with the specialized high school admissions test. This program shall be 24 optional for sixth and seventh grade students. 25 (i) The test preparation program classes shall be scheduled outside of 26 the regular operating hours of the school day and include class sessions 27 meeting on Saturdays during the school year and weekdays during the 28 summer for students completing sixth and seventh grade. 29 (ii) Transportation and meals shall be provided to all public school 30 students who are eligible for this program at no cost. 31 (iii) The chancellor shall establish procedures for notifying public 32 school students and parents or guardians about the availability of such 33 test preparation program at least twice during each of the students' 34 fifth grade and sixth grade years, at each parent-teacher conference 35 occurring during those school years, and through other methods of commu- 36 nication deemed appropriate by the chancellor. 37 (d) Prepare and release a test preparation guide, which shall be 38 distributed at no cost to all public school seventh grade students on 39 the first day of each school year, that includes: 40 (i) a breakdown of the topics covered by the specialized high school 41 admissions test; 42 (ii) actual questions used on the previous year's specialized high 43 school admissions test; and 44 (iii) any other information the chancellor determines would be appro- 45 priate to provide to assist students in preparing for the specialized 46 high school admissions test. 47 (e) Establish an outreach program to raise awareness about the 48 specialized high school admissions test, the test preparation program 49 established pursuant to paragraph (c) of this subdivision, and the test 50 preparation guide developed pursuant to paragraph (d) of this subdivi- 51 sion, which collectively shall be defined for purposes of this section 52 as the specialized high school admissions test offerings. Such outreach 53 program shall prioritize engagement with eligible students, parents and 54 guardians in community districts with low rates of public high school 55 students attending specialized high schools and include, but not be 56 limited to:A. 8437 4 1 (i) a dedicated outreach staff that engages eligible students, parents 2 and guardians at middle schools and appropriate community venues and 3 events regarding the specialized high school admissions test offerings; 4 (ii) advertisements, including within mass transit locations; 5 (iii) a direct telephone outreach campaign for eligible students, 6 parents and guardians to receive and solicit information regarding the 7 specialized high school admissions test offerings; 8 (iv) dedicated middle school specialists on staff at the 311 customer 9 service center, as defined in chapter three of title twenty-three of the 10 administrative code of the city of New York, for eligible students, 11 parents and guardians who solicit information regarding the specialized 12 high school admissions test offerings; and 13 (v) partnerships with community-based organizations, the New York City 14 Housing Authority, the Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs, and the New 15 York City Department of Homeless Services to facilitate outreach to 16 eligible students, parents and guardians regarding the specialized high 17 school admissions test offerings. 18 § 5. Subdivision 2 of section 2590-h of the education law, as amended 19 by chapter 720 of the laws of 1996, is amended to read as follows: 20 2. Establish, control and operate new schools or programs of the types 21 specified in subdivision one of this section, or to discontinue any such 22 schools and programs as he or she may determine; provided, however, that 23 [he] the chancellor shall [consult]: 24 (a) Consult with the affected community board before: 25 [(a)] (i) substantially expanding or reducing such an existing school 26 or program within a community district; 27 [(b)] (ii) initially utilizing a community district school or facility 28 for such a school or program; 29 [(c)] (iii) instituting any new program within a community district. 30 (b) Establish by the two thousand twenty-two--two thousand twenty- 31 three academic year at least ten specialized high schools, in accordance 32 with New York City Chancellor Regulations on specialized high schools, 33 in addition to those specialized high schools identified in clause (A) 34 of subparagraph (i) of paragraph (b) of subdivision one of this section, 35 provided however that the majority of the specialized high schools 36 established pursuant to this paragraph are located in areas that are at 37 least two miles away from any specialized high school identified in 38 clause (A) of subparagraph (i) of paragraph (b) of subdivision one of 39 this section. 40 (c) Establish by the two thousand twenty--two thousand twenty-one 41 academic year a test preparation program available, at no cost, to all 42 public school students in the sixth and seventh grades in connection 43 with the specialized high school admissions test. This program shall be 44 optional for sixth and seventh grade students. 45 (i) The test preparation program classes shall be scheduled outside of 46 the regular operating hours of the school day and include class sessions 47 meeting on Saturdays during the school year and weekdays during the 48 summer for students completing sixth and seventh grade. 49 (ii) Transportation and meals shall be provided to all public school 50 students who are eligible for this program at no cost. 51 (iii) The chancellor shall establish procedures for notifying public 52 school students and parents or guardians about the availability of such 53 test preparation program at least twice during each of the students' 54 fifth grade and sixth grade years, at each parent-teacher conference 55 occurring during those school years, and through other methods of commu- 56 nication deemed appropriate by the chancellor.A. 8437 5 1 (d) Prepare and release a test preparation guide, which shall be 2 distributed at no cost to all public school seventh grade students on 3 the first day of each school year, that includes: 4 (i) a breakdown of the topics covered by the specialized high school 5 admissions test; 6 (ii) actual questions used on the previous year's specialized high 7 school admissions test; and 8 (iii) any other information the chancellor determines would be appro- 9 priate to provide to assist students in preparing for the specialized 10 high school admissions test. 11 (e) Establish an outreach program to raise awareness about the 12 specialized high school admissions test, the test preparation program 13 established pursuant to paragraph (c) of this subdivision, and the test 14 preparation guide developed pursuant to paragraph (d) of this subdivi- 15 sion, which collectively shall be defined for purposes of this section 16 as the specialized high school admissions test offerings. Such outreach 17 program shall prioritize engagement with eligible students, parents and 18 guardians in community districts with low rates of public high school 19 students attending specialized high schools and include, but not be 20 limited to: 21 (i) a dedicated outreach staff that engages eligible students, parents 22 and guardians at middle schools and appropriate community venues and 23 events regarding the specialized high school admissions test offerings; 24 (ii) advertisements, including within mass transit locations; 25 (iii) a direct telephone outreach campaign for eligible students, 26 parents and guardians to receive and solicit information regarding the 27 specialized high school admissions test offerings; 28 (iv) dedicated middle school specialists on staff at the 311 customer 29 service center, as defined in chapter three of title twenty-three of the 30 administrative code of the city of New York, for eligible students, 31 parents and guardians who solicit information regarding the specialized 32 high school admissions test offerings; and 33 (v) partnerships with community-based organizations, the New York City 34 Housing Authority, the Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs, and the New 35 York City Department of Homeless Services to facilitate outreach to 36 eligible students, parents and guardians regarding the specialized high 37 school admissions test offerings. 38 § 6. The administrative code of the city of New York is amended by 39 adding a new section 21-974.1 to read as follows: 40 § 21-974.1 Gifted and talented programs and classes. Notwithstanding 41 any other provision of law, rule, regulation or local law to the contra- 42 ry, the department shall direct: 43 a. Each school district to establish by the two thousand twenty--two 44 thousand twenty-one academic year at least one district gifted and 45 talented program for kindergarten through fifth grade public school 46 students in accordance with existing gifted and talented admissions 47 standards and processes. 48 b. Each school district shall register all eligible public school 49 students not currently enrolled in gifted and talented programs to take 50 the gifted and talented admissions examination as of the two thousand 51 twenty--two thousand twenty-one academic year. A parent or guardian may 52 opt-out of the gifted and talented admissions examination on behalf of 53 that student. 54 § 7. The education law is amended by adding a new section 2590-b-1 to 55 read as follows:A. 8437 6 1 § 2590-b-1. Commission on middle school achievement. 1. No later than 2 thirty days following the effective date of a chapter of the laws of two 3 thousand nineteen that added this section, there shall be established a 4 commission on middle school achievement ("the commission"). The commis- 5 sion shall provide guidance, advice, and make recommendations to the 6 chancellor on matters pertaining to education policy, performance and 7 innovation in middle schools located in the city district. 8 2. The members of the commission shall include, but not be limited to, 9 representatives of academic institutions, representatives of public 10 employees, and stakeholders with experience in education policy. The 11 commission, which shall include at least one resident of each borough of 12 the city of New York, shall be composed of eight members appointed as 13 follows: 14 (a) two members appointed by the speaker of the assembly; 15 (b) two members appointed by the majority leader of the senate; and 16 (c) four members appointed by the governor. 17 3. No member of the commission shall be disqualified from holding any 18 public office or employment, nor shall he or she forfeit any such office 19 or employment by virtue of his or her appointment hereunder. All members 20 of the commission and its subcommittees shall serve at the pleasure of 21 his or her respective appointing authority. 22 4. The commission shall vote for a chair, or co-chairs, from among the 23 members of the commission. 24 5. A majority of the total members of the commission who have been 25 appointed shall constitute a quorum, and all recommendations of the 26 commission shall require approval of a majority of its total members. 27 Any subcommittee shall present its findings to the commission for 28 approval. 29 6. Every agency, department, office, division or public authority of 30 this state and of the city of New York shall cooperate with the commis- 31 sion and furnish such information and assistance as the commission 32 determines is reasonably necessary to accomplish its purposes. 33 7. The commission shall attempt to engage and solicit the additional 34 input of a broad and diverse range of groups, organizations, and indi- 35 viduals who are not members of the commission, including, without limi- 36 tation, members of school boards, superintendents, principals, teachers, 37 parents and representatives of public sector employees, and may request 38 documents, conduct public hearings, hear the testimony of witnesses and 39 take any other actions it deems necessary to carry out its purposes. 40 8. The commission shall comprehensively review and assess the city 41 district's middle schools, including their structure, operations, and 42 processes, to identify successful models and strategies that support 43 student achievement and provide students with a high-quality education. 44 Such review shall include, but not be limited to, evaluation of the 45 following: 46 (a) teacher recruitment and performance, including incentives for 47 teacher retention as well as the teacher preparation, certification, and 48 evaluation systems utilized in city district middle schools; 49 (b) factors that support student achievement from pre-kindergarten 50 through middle school and prepare students for a successful transition 51 to high school, including, but not limited to class size, student-teach- 52 er ratios, and availability of supplemental individualized or small- 53 group tutoring; 54 (c) parent and family engagement, including the impact of the school 55 calendar, school schedule and district-level policies on parental 56 involvement in middle school;A. 8437 7 1 (d) unique issues faced by high-need urban middle schools, including 2 identification of services that these districts might require to be 3 successful; 4 (e) past failures to improve performance at under-performing middle 5 schools; and 6 (f) whether the overall structure of the city district's middle and 7 high school system meets students' needs. 8 9. In carrying out its responsibilities, the commission shall study 9 national and international public education models and best practices 10 for the education of middle school-age children and make recommendations 11 regarding ways to increase educational productivity and student perform- 12 ance in city district's middle schools. 13 10. The commission shall make final recommendations to the governor, 14 the state legislature, and the chancellor no later than December thir- 15 ty-first, two thousand nineteen at which time it shall terminate its 16 work and be relieved of all responsibilities and duties hereunder. 17 § 8. This act shall take effect immediately; provided, however, that 18 the amendments to paragraph (b) of subdivision 1 of section 2590-h of 19 the education law made by section two of this act shall be subject to 20 the expiration and reversion of such section pursuant to section 17 of 21 chapter 345 of the laws of 2009, as amended, when upon such date section 22 three of this act shall take effect; provided further, that the amend- 23 ments to subdivision 2 of section 2590-h of the education law made by 24 section four of this act shall be subject to the expiration and rever- 25 sion of such subdivision pursuant to section 34 of chapter 91 of the 26 laws of 2002, when upon such date section five of this act shall take 27 effect.
