NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A6777
SPONSOR: Nolan (MS) TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the education law, in relation to providing parents with
the right and authority to exempt their children from taking standard-
ized assessments
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
This bill reaffirms parents' authority to exempt their children from
standardized assessments.
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Section 1 amends the education law by adding a new section that reaf-
firms a parent's authority to exempt their child from standardized
assessments, require schools to offer exempted students alternative
educational or enrichment programs and prohibits retaliation.
JUSTIFICATION:
Parents are partners in their children's education. Recent changes to
New York State's assessment system have caused many parents to question
the use and benefit of standardized testing for the children. As part-
ners in their children's education, parents must have the opportunity to
participate in decisions about their children's academic program includ-
ing assessment. This bill assures parents that opportunity.
This legislation reaffirms parents' discretion and authority to exempt
their children from standardized assessments but it neither supports nor
opposes such exemption. In addition, the exemption from standardized
assessments authorized by this bill should not extend to Regents exam-
inations, as they are graduation requirements.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New Bill
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately
