Bill Text: NY S05589 | 2015-2016 | General Assembly | Introduced
NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
Bill Title: Establishes the Blue Ribbon Commission on 21st Century Testing and Curriculum.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2016-02-01 - PRINT NUMBER 5589A [S05589 Detail]
Download: New_York-2015-S05589-Introduced.html
Bill Title: Establishes the Blue Ribbon Commission on 21st Century Testing and Curriculum.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2016-02-01 - PRINT NUMBER 5589A [S05589 Detail]
Download: New_York-2015-S05589-Introduced.html
S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K ________________________________________________________________________ 5589 2015-2016 Regular Sessions I N S E N A T E May 15, 2015 ___________ Introduced by Sen. GRIFFO -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Education AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to the Blue Ribbon Commission THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM- BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: 1 Section 1. The education law is amended by adding a new article 7-B to 2 read as follows: 3 ARTICLE 7-B 4 BLUE RIBBON COMMISSION ON 21ST CENTURY TESTING AND CURRICULUM 5 SECTION 349-A. DEFINITIONS. 6 349-B. BLUE RIBBON COMMISSION ON 21ST CENTURY TESTING AND 7 CURRICULUM. 8 349-C. SUSPENSION OF COMMON CORE TESTING. 9 349-D. SUSPENSION OF COMMON CORE CURRICULUM. 10 349-E. WAIVER FROM RACE TO THE TOP OBLIGATIONS RELATED TO COMMON 11 CORE. 12 S 349-A. DEFINITIONS. AS USED IN THIS ARTICLE: 13 1. "COMMISSION" SHALL MEAN THE BLUE RIBBON COMMISSION ON 21ST CENTURY 14 TESTING AND CURRICULUM ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO THIS ARTICLE. 15 2. "COMMON CORE CURRICULUM" SHALL MEAN ANY CURRICULUM DEVELOPED IN 16 FURTHERANCE OF THE COMMON CORE ACADEMIC STANDARDS DEVELOPED BY THE 17 NATIONAL GOVERNORS ASSOCIATION CENTER FOR BEST PRACTICES AND THE COUNCIL 18 OF CHIEF STATE SCHOOL OFFICERS. 19 3. "COMMON CORE STATE TEST" SHALL MEAN ANY STATE OR CONSORTIUM 20 CREATED, DEVELOPED OR ADMINISTERED TEST GIVEN IN NEW YORK STATE TO 21 STUDENTS IN GRADES PRE-KINDERGARTEN THROUGH TWELVE THAT TESTS A 22 STUDENT'S KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS RELATING TO THE COMMON CORE CURRICULUM. 23 4. "CONSORTIUM" SHALL MEAN THE SMARTER BALANCED ASSESSMENT CONSORTIUM, 24 THE PARTNERSHIP FOR ASSESSMENT OF READINESS FOR COLLEGE AND CAREERS, OR EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD07575-03-5 S. 5589 2 1 ANY OTHER ORGANIZATION, ENTITY, OR GROUP DEVELOPING STANDARDIZED TESTS 2 BASED OFF OF THE COMMON CORE CURRICULUM. 3 S 349-B. BLUE RIBBON COMMISSION ON 21ST CENTURY TESTING AND CURRIC- 4 ULUM. 1. THERE IS HEREBY CREATED THE BLUE RIBBON COMMISSION ON 21ST 5 CENTURY TESTING AND CURRICULUM, WHICH SHALL CONSIST OF THE FOLLOWING 6 TWENTY-THREE MEMBERS WHO SHALL BE APPOINTED NO LESS THAN THIRTY DAYS 7 AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SECTION: 8 A. FIVE MEMBERS SHALL BE APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR, ONE OF WHOM SHALL 9 BE THE COMMISSIONER; 10 B. TWO MEMBERS SHALL BE APPOINTED BY THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE 11 SENATE; 12 C. TWO MEMBERS SHALL BE APPOINTED BY THE SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY; 13 D. TWO MEMBERS SHALL BE APPOINTED BY THE MINORITY LEADER OF THE 14 SENATE; 15 E. TWO MEMBERS SHALL BE APPOINTED BY THE MINORITY LEADER OF THE ASSEM- 16 BLY; 17 F. THREE MEMBERS SHALL BE APPOINTED BY THE PRESIDENT OF NEW YORK STATE 18 UNITED TEACHERS, ONE OF WHOM MUST HAVE COMPLETED THEIR SPECIAL EDUCATION 19 CERTIFICATION AND ONE OF WHOM MUST PROVIDE INSTRUCTION TO ENGLISH AS A 20 SECOND LANGUAGE STUDENTS; 21 G. ONE MEMBER SHALL BE APPOINTED BY THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE 22 SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS ASSOCIATION OF NEW YORK STATE; 23 H. TWO MEMBERS SHALL BE APPOINTED BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE NEW YORK 24 STATE PARENT TEACHER ASSOCIATION, ONE OF WHOM MUST BE A PARENT OF A 25 STUDENT WITH A CURRENT INDIVIDUAL EDUCATION PLAN; 26 I. ONE MEMBER SHALL BE APPOINTED BY THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE NEW 27 YORK STATE COUNCIL OF SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS; 28 J. ONE MEMBER SHALL BE APPOINTED BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE NEW YORK 29 STATE SCHOOL BOARDS ASSOCIATION; 30 K. ONE MEMBER SHALL BE APPOINTED BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE NEW YORK 31 STATE ASSOCIATION OF INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS; 32 L. ONE MEMBER SHALL BE APPOINTED BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE NEW YORK 33 STATE ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS. SUCH MEMBER SHALL HAVE EXPE- 34 RIENCE IN A CLINICAL SETTING. 35 2. NO MEMBER OF THE COMMISSION SHALL BE DISQUALIFIED FROM HOLDING ANY 36 PUBLIC OFFICE OR EMPLOYMENT, NOR SHALL HE OR SHE FORFEIT ANY SUCH OFFICE 37 OR EMPLOYMENT BY VIRTUE OF HIS OR HER APPOINTMENT PURSUANT TO THIS 38 SECTION. MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION SHALL RECEIVE NO COMPENSATION FOR 39 THEIR SERVICES, BUT SHALL BE ALLOWED THEIR ACTUAL AND NECESSARY EXPENSES 40 INCURRED IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THEIR FUNCTIONS PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION. 41 A MEMBER OF THE COMMISSION MAY BE REMOVED BY THE APPOINTING AUTHORITY 42 ONLY FOR GOOD CAUSE, AFTER NOTICE AND OPPORTUNITY TO BE HEARD. VACANCIES 43 SHALL BE FILLED IN THE SAME MANNER AS ORIGINAL APPOINTMENTS. 44 3. POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION. 45 A. THE COMMISSION SHALL HOLD AT LEAST ONE PUBLIC HEARING IN EACH OF 46 THE FOLLOWING REGIONS: 47 I. LONG ISLAND; 48 II. NEW YORK CITY; 49 III. HUDSON VALLEY; 50 IV. CAPITAL DISTRICT; 51 V. NORTH COUNTRY; 52 VI. CENTRAL NEW YORK; 53 VII. FINGER LAKES; 54 VIII. WESTERN NEW YORK; 55 IX. SOUTHERN TIER. S. 5589 3 1 B. DURING THE PUBLIC HEARINGS, THE COMMISSION SHALL HEAR THE TESTIMONY 2 OF VOLUNTARY WITNESSES, MAY COMPEL THE TESTIMONY OF WITNESSES AND MAY 3 REQUIRE THE PRODUCTION OF ANY DOCUMENTS THE COMMISSION DEEMS REASONABLY 4 NECESSARY TO CARRY OUT ITS RESPONSIBILITIES. 5 C. AFTER REVIEW, STUDY, AND RECEIPT OF PUBLIC COMMENT, THE COMMISSION 6 SHALL ISSUE A REPORT AND PROMULGATE RECOMMENDATIONS GOVERNING EDUCA- 7 TIONAL STANDARDS, CURRICULUM, THE IMPLEMENTATION THEREOF, AND TESTING IN 8 THE STATE OF NEW YORK FOR GRADES PRE-KINDERGARTEN THROUGH TWELVE. RECOM- 9 MENDATIONS SHALL INCLUDE INFORMATION ON, BUT SHALL NOT BE LIMITED TO, 10 THE FOLLOWING: 11 I. AN ANALYSIS OF THE STATE STANDARDS AND RELATED CURRICULUM EXISTING 12 IN THE TWO THOUSAND NINE--TWO THOUSAND TEN SCHOOL YEAR; 13 II. AN ANALYSIS OF THE COMMON CORE STANDARDS ESTABLISHED IN TWO THOU- 14 SAND TEN BY THE NATIONAL GOVERNORS ASSOCIATION CENTER FOR BEST PRACTICES 15 AND THE COUNCIL OF CHIEF STATE SCHOOL OFFICERS; 16 III. AN ANALYSIS OF BEST PRACTICES, IN LIGHT OF THE STUDY AND REVIEW 17 OF PRIOR STATE STANDARDS AND THOSE PUT FORTH BY THE NATIONAL GOVERNORS 18 ASSOCIATION CENTER FOR BEST PRACTICES AND THE COUNCIL OF CHIEF STATE 19 SCHOOL OFFICERS, RELATED TO EDUCATIONAL STANDARDS AND PROMOTING COLLEGE 20 AND CAREER READINESS FOR PRE-KINDERGARTEN THROUGH TWELFTH GRADE STUDENTS 21 IN NEW YORK STATE; 22 IV. AN ANALYSIS OF AGE APPROPRIATE AND DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE 23 MEANS OF IMPLEMENTING AND TRANSITIONING TO NEW EDUCATIONAL STANDARDS AND 24 CURRICULUMS WITHIN THE STATE; 25 V. AN ANALYSIS OF THE TIME AND RESOURCES SPENT PREPARING FOR AND 26 ADMINISTERING STATE-WIDE TESTS WITHIN THE STATE, FOR EACH GRADE, IN THE 27 SCHOOL YEARS TWO THOUSAND NINE--TWO THOUSAND TEN, TWO THOUSAND TEN--TWO 28 THOUSAND ELEVEN, TWO THOUSAND ELEVEN--TWO THOUSAND TWELVE, TWO THOUSAND 29 TWELVE--TWO THOUSAND THIRTEEN, TWO THOUSAND THIRTEEN--TWO THOUSAND FOUR- 30 TEEN, TWO THOUSAND FOURTEEN--TWO THOUSAND FIFTEEN; 31 VI. AN ANALYSIS OF THE DATA COLLECTED PURSUANT TO SUBPARAGRAPH V OF 32 THIS PARAGRAPH AND THE IMPACT THAT THE TIME AND RESOURCES ALLOCATED HAD 33 ON THE QUALITY OF INSTRUCTION AND EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING OF STUDENTS IN 34 THE STATE; 35 VII. AN ANALYSIS OF THE IMPACT THAT A CHANGE IN CURRICULUM WILL HAVE 36 ON STUDENTS WHO ARE ABSENT FROM THEIR REGULAR CLASSES FOR EXTENDED PERI- 37 ODS EACH WEEK DUE TO RECEIVING SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL SERVICES, REMEDIAL 38 SERVICES, OR STUDENTS WHO HAVE EXTENDED ABSENCES; 39 VIII. AN ANALYSIS OF HOW THE POTENTIAL REINSTATEMENT OF THE COMMON 40 CORE CURRICULUM WILL IMPACT THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT STUDENTS OF VARIOUS 41 FAMILY STRUCTURES AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC BACKGROUNDS SPEND DOING HOMEWORK; 42 IX. AN ANALYSIS AS TO THE SUFFICIENCY OF THE COMMON CORE MODULES AND 43 ANY LESSON PLANS PROVIDED TO THE SCHOOLS BY THE DEPARTMENT; 44 X. A COMPARISON OF LOCALLY DEVELOPED CURRICULUMS THAT WERE DEVELOPED 45 IN ORDER TO INSTRUCT ON THE COMMON CORE STANDARDS AND THOSE THAT WERE 46 PURCHASED FROM VENDORS, WITH A FOCUS ON QUALITY, AGE APPROPRIATENESS AND 47 DEVELOPMENTAL APPROPRIATENESS; 48 XI. A REVIEW OF THE PERCENTAGE OF SCHOOLS THAT HAD FULLY IMPLEMENTED 49 THE COMMON CORE CURRICULUM, THOSE THAT HAD PARTIALLY IMPLEMENTED THE 50 COMMON CORE CURRICULUM, AND THOSE THAT HAD NOT IMPLEMENTED ANY PART OF 51 THE COMMON CORE CURRICULUM DURING THE TWO THOUSAND FOURTEEN--TWO THOU- 52 SAND FIFTEEN SCHOOL YEAR; 53 XII. AN ANALYSIS OF WHETHER OR NOT INSTRUCTION AND TESTING ON THE 54 COMMON CORE CURRICULUM IS DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE FOR CHILDREN WITH 55 INDIVIDUALIZED EDUCATION PLANS AND CHILDREN WITH OTHER LEARNING DISABIL- 56 ITIES. S. 5589 4 1 D. AFTER CONCLUDING THEIR STUDY, THE COMMISSION MUST TAKE A VOTE ON 2 WHETHER OR NOT THEY BELIEVE THE COMMON CORE CURRICULUM SHOULD BE REIN- 3 STATED. THE RESULTS OF THAT VOTE MUST BE INCLUDED IN THEIR FINAL REPORT. 4 E. THE COMMISSION SHALL HAVE THE POWER TO: 5 I. APPOINT A CHAIRPERSON BY A MAJORITY VOTE; 6 II. CALL UPON ANY AGENCY, DEPARTMENT, OFFICE, DIVISION OR PUBLIC 7 AUTHORITY, OR SCHOOL DISTRICT OF THIS STATE TO SUPPLY IT WITH SUCH 8 INFORMATION AND ASSISTANCE AS THE COMMISSION DEEMS NECESSARY TO 9 DISCHARGE ITS RESPONSIBILITIES. EACH AGENCY, DEPARTMENT, OFFICE, DIVI- 10 SION OR SCHOOL DISTRICT OF THIS STATE SHALL COOPERATE WITH THE COMMIS- 11 SION AND FURNISH SUCH INFORMATION AND ASSISTANCE AS IT REQUESTS TO 12 ACCOMPLISH ITS PURPOSES; 13 III. APPOINT A COUNSEL AND SUCH OTHER STAFF AS THE COMMISSION DEEMS 14 REASONABLY NECESSARY TO CARRY OUT ITS RESPONSIBILITIES; 15 IV. CONTRACT WITH ANY STATE OR PRIVATE ENTITY FOR THE PROVISION OF 16 SUCH SERVICES AS THE COMMISSION DETERMINES TO BE REASONABLY NECESSARY; 17 AND 18 V. TAKE OTHER ACTIONS NOT INCONSISTENT WITH THE PURPOSES OF THIS 19 SECTION AS SHALL ENABLE THE COMMISSION TO CARRY OUT ITS FUNCTIONS. 20 F. RECOMMENDATIONS ISSUED BY THE COMMISSION SHALL BE DECIDED BY A 21 MAJORITY VOTE. RECOMMENDATIONS ISSUED BY THE COMMISSION SHALL BE 22 CONTAINED IN A REPORT TO THE GOVERNOR AND LEGISLATURE. THE REPORT SHALL 23 BE ISSUED NO LATER THAN JANUARY THIRTY-FIRST, TWO THOUSAND SEVENTEEN. 24 G. MEETINGS OF THE COMMISSION SHALL BE SUBJECT TO THE OPEN MEETINGS 25 LAW ESTABLISHED BY ARTICLE SEVEN OF THE PUBLIC OFFICERS LAW. 26 S 349-C. SUSPENSION OF COMMON CORE TESTING. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY 27 PROVISION OF LAW TO THE CONTRARY, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL BE PROHIBITED 28 FROM REQUIRING ANY SCHOOL OR SCHOOL DISTRICT IN THE STATE TO ISSUE A 29 COMMON CORE STATE TEST AS DEFINED BY SUBDIVISION THREE OF SECTION THREE 30 HUNDRED FORTY-NINE-A OF THIS ARTICLE UNTIL THE TWO THOUSAND 31 SEVENTEEN--TWO THOUSAND EIGHTEEN SCHOOL YEAR. DURING THE MORATORIUM, 32 STATE-WIDE ASSESSMENTS FOR GRADES PRE-KINDERGARTEN THROUGH TWELVE SHALL 33 BE DEVELOPED FROM STATE STANDARDS WHICH EXISTED FOR THE TWO THOUSAND 34 NINE--TWO THOUSAND TEN SCHOOL YEAR. 35 S 349-D. SUSPENSION OF COMMON CORE CURRICULUM. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY 36 PROVISION OF LAW TO THE CONTRARY, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL BE PROHIBITED 37 FROM REQUIRING ANY SCHOOL OR SCHOOL DISTRICT IN THE STATE TO IMPLEMENT A 38 COMMON CORE CURRICULUM AS DEFINED BY SUBDIVISION TWO OF SECTION THREE 39 HUNDRED FORTY-NINE-A OF THIS ARTICLE UNTIL THE TWO THOUSAND 40 SEVENTEEN--TWO THOUSAND EIGHTEEN SCHOOL YEAR. 41 S 349-E. WAIVER FROM RACE TO THE TOP OBLIGATIONS RELATED TO COMMON 42 CORE. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL BE REQUIRED, WITHIN THIRTY DAYS OF THE 43 EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS ARTICLE, TO APPLY TO THE UNITED STATE DEPARTMENT 44 OF EDUCATION FOR ANY AND ALL FLEXIBILITY WAIVERS THAT MAY BE REQUIRED IN 45 ORDER FOR THE STATE TO REMAIN IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE RACE TO THE TOP 46 APPLICATION WHICH WAS SUBMITTED BY THE DEPARTMENT ON JUNE FIRST, TWO 47 THOUSAND TEN. PROVIDED HOWEVER, IN THE EVENT THAT THE UNITED STATES 48 DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SHALL DENY THE FLEXIBILITY WAIVER, OR ANY 49 PORTION THEREOF, SUCH DENIAL SHALL HAVE NO EFFECT ON THE REQUIREMENTS 50 AND PROHIBITIONS PROVIDED IN THIS ARTICLE. 51 S 2. This act shall take effect June 30, 2015 or on the thirtieth day 52 after it shall have become a law, whichever is later.