Relates to the establishment of various programs for students in pre-kindergarten through third grade including programs for literacy, career readiness and financial literacy.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A5978
SPONSOR: Jackson TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the education law, in relation to the establishment of a
comprehensive career readiness program for pre-kindergarten to third
grade students
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
Establishes various programs to assist students from prekindergarten
through third grade.
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Section 1 establishes that the commissioner shall promulgate rules and
regulations to implement several programs for pre-kindergarten to third
grade students in every school district. These programs include but are
not limited to:
1) A literacy program in which all students are assessed annually and
deemed to be either above, below, or at current literacy grade level.
2) Two plans to assist students who fall within and below the current
grade level for literacy. These plans will aim to help students achieve
higher literacy rates.
3) Establishes a career readiness program that introduces students to
different occupations and possible career paths. This career readiness
program includes guest speakers, career fairs, and emphasizes academic
achievement to achieve career goals. As a part of this career readiness
program students are taught to become fiscally responsible both profes-
sionally and personally and are provided with monthly seminars on how to
save money, developing a personal budget and on entrepreneurship and the
relationship between spending and debt.
Section 2 establishes that this act shall take effect immediately.
JUSTIFICATION:
Literacy is a critical determinant for a young person's future success.
Reading literacy by the third grade is a widely accepted benchmark to
determine graduation potential. Moreover, financial literacy and aware-
ness of career options are essential for young people to be conscious of
the various potentials while equally understanding how to be personally
and professionally fiscally responsible. This bill will lead to program-
ming that ensures these essential components are measured so that stra-
tegic plans are then created for future success.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2019-20 A.4857 Referred to Education
2017-18 A.4425 Referred to Education
2015-16 A.7560 Referred to Education
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
5978
2021-2022 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
March 4, 2021
___________
Introduced by M. of A. JACKSON -- read once and referred to the Commit-
tee on Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to the establishment of a
comprehensive career readiness program for pre-kindergarten to third
grade students
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Section 305 of the education law is amended by adding a new
2 subdivision 59 to read as follows:
3 59. The commissioner shall promulgate rules and regulations requiring
4 the implementation of the following programs for pre-kindergarten to
5 third grade students in every school district:
6 a. A literacy program in which:
7 (i) all students are assessed annually on their current literacy level
8 and placed into one of the following literacy rate categories:
9 (1) above current grade level;
10 (2) current grade level; and
11 (3) below current grade level;
12 (ii) annually, two proposed plans are created to assist students who
13 fall within the current grade level and below current grade level liter-
14 acy rate categories in order to achieve a higher literacy rate, includ-
15 ing a list of necessary resources in order to implement such plans.
16 b. A career readiness program in which:
17 (i) monthly, students are introduced to different occupations and
18 possible career paths;
19 (ii) activities include but are not limited to guest speakers, career
20 fairs and visiting approved industry sites; and
21 (iii) there is an emphasis on the importance of attendance and academ-
22 ic achievement to reach career goals.
23 c. A financial literacy program in which:
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD09038-01-1
A. 5978 2
1 (i) the main goal is for students to learn how to become fiscally
2 responsible both professionally and personally;
3 (ii) monthly seminars will be provided for all students on topics
4 including but not limited to the following:
5 (1) how to save money;
6 (2) entrepreneurship;
7 (3) opening and maintaining banking and checking accounts;
8 (4) developing a personal budget; and
9 (5) the relationship between spending and debt.
10 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
