Requires that readability standards for state administered standardized English language arts or mathematics assessments shall be presented at a readability level that is grade-level appropriate; requires the commissioner of SED to review assessments to ensure materials presented are grade-level appropriate.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
7460
2015-2016 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
May 12, 2015
___________
Introduced by M. of A. FAHY, McDONALD, BICHOTTE, GUNTHER, KAMINSKY,
BARRETT, STIRPE, KIM, LIFTON, SIMON, MOSLEY, BUCHWALD, SKOUFIS,
JAFFEE, GOTTFRIED, COLTON, RAIA, STEC, BRINDISI, LUPINACCI, DUPREY,
CUSICK, COOK, ZEBROWSKI -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. MAGEE --
read once and referred to the Committee on Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to readability standards
for standardized assessments
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 section 319 to
2 read as follows:
3 § 319. Readability standards for standardized assessments. State
4 administered standardized English language arts or mathematics assess-
5 ments for grades three through eight shall be presented at a readability
6 level that is grade-level appropriate.
7 § 2. In order to implement the provisions of section one of this act,
8 the commissioner of education shall:
9 (1) no later than September 1, 2016 complete an initial review of
10 state administered standardized English language arts or mathematics
11 assessments for grades three through eight to review the readability of
12 such assessments prior to the administration of such assessments. If it
13 is determined from the initial review that the assessments are not
14 grade-level appropriate, the education department shall make the neces-
15 sary changes to such assessments to ensure that they are presented at a
16 readability level that is grade-level appropriate prior to the adminis-
17 tration of such assessments.
18 (2) consult with relevant stakeholders, as determined by the commis-
19 sioner of education, and consider the use of comprehension and readabil-
20 ity indices or tests such as those established by the Flesch-Kincaid
21 Grade Level, Gunning Fog Index, Coleman-Liau Index, SMOG Index, Auto-
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD10523-03-5
A. 7460 2
1 mated Readability Index, or other readily available and nationally
2 accepted readability indices and tests.
3 § 3. This act shall take effect immediately; provided, however that
4 section one of this act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth
5 day after it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the
6 commissioner of education is authorized to promulgate any and all rules
7 and regulations and take any other measures necessary to implement this
8 act on its effective date, on or before such date.
