Relates to expanding access to advanced courses to improve educational equity beginning with notification to parents and students on the benefits and opportunities offered as well as automatic enrollment opportunities.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
1111--A
2021-2022 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 7, 2021
___________
Introduced by Sens. LIU, BROUK, RAMOS -- read twice and ordered printed,
and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Education --
committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and
recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to expanding access to
advanced courses to improve educational equity
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 817 to
2 read as follows:
3 § 817. Expanding access to advanced courses to improve educational
4 equity. 1. Definitions. As used in this section the following terms
5 shall have the following meanings:
6 a. "Advanced course" means as follows: (i) in middle school, any
7 course that leads to a high school level regents examination or any
8 honors, gifted, or accelerated course; and (ii) in high school, any
9 honors, gifted, accelerated, advanced placement, international baccalau-
10 reate, dual or concurrent enrollment course or program, work-based
11 learning opportunities, apprenticeships, and courses or examinations for
12 which a student may earn college credit or an industry-recognized
13 certification.
14 b. "Parent" means a parent, legal guardian, or person in parental
15 relation to a student.
16 2. Providing transparency and support for parents and students. a.
17 Starting with the two thousand twenty-two--two thousand twenty-three
18 school year, each school district and charter school shall annually
19 provide notification to parents and students of the benefits and the
20 opportunities within the district or charter school of participating in
21 advanced courses.
22 b. For students in grades five through six, such notification shall
23 include:
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03699-04-1
S. 1111--A 2
1 (i) a clear and understandable description of the middle and high
2 school courses students should take in order to be prepared for entry
3 and success in college, the workforce, and active citizenship, including
4 but not limited to advanced courses;
5 (ii) language advising students and parents of the benefits of partic-
6 ipating in advanced courses; and
7 (iii) a description of the advanced courses offered by the school
8 district or charter school in middle and high school and how to prepare
9 for and enroll in them.
10 c. For students preparing to enter grades seven through twelve, such
11 notification shall occur by January first of each school year or two
12 weeks before registration for classes for the upcoming school year,
13 whichever is earlier, and shall include:
14 (i) a clear and understandable description of the courses students
15 should take in the applicable grade span in order to be prepared for
16 entry and success in college, the workforce, and active citizenship,
17 including but not limited to advanced courses;
18 (ii) language advising students and parents of the benefits of partic-
19 ipating in advanced courses;
20 (iii) a description of the advanced courses to be offered by the
21 school district or charter school in the following school year; and
22 (iv) a description of the academic and non-academic support the school
23 district or charter school provides to help students succeed in advanced
24 courses, as well as any financial assistance available to reduce or
25 eliminate any costs associated with participation in advanced courses,
26 including but not limited to related fees, supplies, and assessments.
27 d. Notification under this subdivision shall be provided electron-
28 ically or by mail and be posted on the website of the school district or
29 charter school.
30 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
