Relates to continuing the early college high school programs and the pathways in technology early college high school programs in this state; makes an appropriation therefor.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
1131--C
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 6, 2017
___________
Introduced by Sens. MARCELLINO, HELMING, MONTGOMERY, ORTT, SERINO --
read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to
the Committee on Finance -- committee discharged, bill amended,
ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee --
committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and
recommitted to said committee -- recommitted to the Committee on
Finance in accordance with Senate Rule 6, sec. 8 -- committee
discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted
to said committee
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to continuing the early
college high school program and the pathways in technology early
college high school program in this state; and making an appropriation
therefor
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Legislative intent. The legislature hereby finds and
2 declares it necessary to preserve and continue the New York state early
3 college high school program and the New York state pathways in technolo-
4 gy early college high school program (P-TECH program) in this state
5 which provide various students, including those traditionally underrep-
6 resented in post-secondary education, with the opportunity to access
7 college-level courses and college degree credits at the high school
8 level with the combined support of high school and college staff and
9 resources, and for P-TECH programs, career training and employment in a
10 highly skilled job upon completion of the program.
11 The early college high school program not only increases students'
12 access to higher education, but also reduces potential costs for
13 students in completing college degrees by allowing them to either
14 complete a degree upon graduation from high school or to apply their
15 earned college credits towards an associate's or baccalaureate's degree.
16 This innovative program provides incentives to high school students to
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07446-07-8
S. 1131--C 2
1 proceed to college and to earn a college degree by accelerating their
2 overall completion of a degree. It also better prepares them for
3 college-level coursework, which, will in turn, increase their academic
4 performance. Ultimately, this program increases graduation rates both at
5 the high school and college levels, especially for academically at-risk
6 students.
7 The P-TECH program, through a public-private partnership, prepares
8 thousands of New York students for high-skill jobs of the future in
9 technology, manufacturing, healthcare and finance. The P-TECH program
10 provides students with a rigorous, relevant and cost-free high school
11 and college education and a workplace learning environment with ongoing
12 mentoring by professionals in the chosen career sector to better prepare
13 these students for successful careers. Students also receive a commit-
14 ment from the participating employer to be first in line for consider-
15 ation for a job following completion of the program. Ultimately, this
16 program increases graduation rates both at the high school and college
17 levels and provides essential career training for academically at-risk,
18 disadvantaged students, which at the completion of the program leads
19 these students to a skilled job.
20 The legislature hereby finds and declares it necessary to provide
21 funding for these programs to ensure that they continue in operation and
22 continue to provide students with these valuable services.
23 The legislature also finds and declares it necessary to provide addi-
24 tional funding for the state education department to administer and
25 evaluate these critical programs. These funds will support program staff
26 to supplement the oversight already being provided to these programs,
27 and ensure the timely and accurate analysis of data to further enhance
28 and validate these programs.
29 § 2. The education law is amended by adding a new section 6457 to read
30 as follows:
31 § 6457. Grant awards for New York state early college high school
32 programs. 1. Subject to an appropriation, the commissioner shall allo-
33 cate funds available for early college high school programs for the
34 purposes of increasing high school graduation rates for academically
35 at-risk, disadvantaged and/or economically disadvantaged students and to
36 increase their participation in post-secondary education through a
37 network of early college high school partnerships in the state.
38 2. For the purposes of this section:
39 a. "approved early college high school program" means a formal part-
40 nership between a school district and at least one institution of higher
41 education, approved by the commissioner in accordance with the regu-
42 lations of the commissioner and the request for proposals process, which
43 provides eligible students enrolled in such program with high school
44 courses leading to the granting of a high school diploma and college-
45 level courses leading to the granting of at least twenty-four college
46 credits and up to a post-secondary degree or diploma from a partner
47 institution of higher education at no cost to the student or student's
48 family.
49 b. "early college high school" means a public high school that offers
50 an approved early college high school program to its students;
51 c. "eligible applicant" means a New York state school district with an
52 approved early college high school program which partners with a not-
53 for-profit higher education institution to offer college-level courses
54 leading to the granting of at least twenty-four college credits and up
55 to a post-secondary degree or diploma, or a not-for-profit higher educa-
56 tion institution registered with the department which partners with a
S. 1131--C 3
1 New York state school district to offer an approved early college high
2 school program;
3 d. "eligible student" means a student who:
4 (i) is a resident of the school district in which the early college
5 high school is located and is enrolled in such school district; and
6 (ii) is registered to attend such high school for the academic years
7 for which the grant award is being sought.
8 3. Monies made available under this section shall be spent for the
9 following purposes as further prescribed by the commissioner in the
10 request for proposals process:
11 a. to provide additional staffing for the early college high school
12 program, including a program director and college liaison;
13 b. student recruitment activities;
14 c. to provide professional development to promote the early college
15 high school program, including cross-curriculum development between
16 secondary and post-secondary education partners to ensure curriculum
17 alignment that prepares students to succeed in college level courses
18 while in high school;
19 d. academic and social support services to promote college readiness
20 and a college-going culture;
21 e. transportation for students to take courses and participate in
22 activities at the partner campus of the higher education partner; and
23 f. tuition, books and fees; provided however that tuition reimburse-
24 ment shall only be allowable for non-remedial, credit-bearing college
25 courses.
26 4. The commissioner shall make awards to eligible applicants for an
27 approved early college high school program through a competitive request
28 for proposals process. The funding cycle for this program shall be for
29 five years commencing with the two thousand eighteen--two thousand nine-
30 teen academic year, with a new grant cycle commencing every five years.
31 The program cycle shall be September first to August thirty-first annu-
32 ally.
33 a. The commissioner shall prioritize partnerships that demonstrate the
34 willingness and capacity to serve students who have been identified as
35 economically disadvantaged and/or academically at-risk for not success-
36 fully completing high school or not enrolling in or succeeding in
37 college.
38 b. Priority shall also be given to early college high school programs
39 that were funded by the department under a prior request for proposals
40 process, based upon demonstration of successful student outcomes as
41 determined by the commissioner in regulations.
42 5. Eligible institutions shall file an application for approval by the
43 commissioner in a timeframe and manner prescribed by the commissioner,
44 demonstrating a need for such funding, including how the funding would
45 be used and how many students would be assisted with such funding.
46 Successful applicants will be funded as provided in accordance with the
47 request for proposals process.
48 6. No funds pursuant to this section shall be made available to
49 support the regular academic programs of any institution participating
50 in this program, nor shall funds be provided for programs which are
51 incompatible with the regents plan for the expansion and development of
52 higher education in this state.
53 § 3. The education law is amended by adding a new section 6458 to read
54 as follows:
55 § 6458. Grant awards for pathways in technology early college high
56 school (P-TECH) programs. 1. Subject to an appropriation, the commis-
S. 1131--C 4
1 sioner shall allocate the funds available for P-TECH programs for the
2 purposes of preparing eligible academically at-risk and/or economically
3 disadvantaged students for high-skill jobs including, but not limited to
4 those in science, technology, engineering, manufacturing, healthcare and
5 finance through a six-year academic program that combines high school,
6 college and career training.
7 2. For the purposes of this section:
8 a. "approved pathways in technology early college high school (P-TECH)
9 program" means a New York state P-TECH program, approved by the commis-
10 sioner in accordance with the regulations of the commissioner and the
11 request for proposals process, which provides eligible students enrolled
12 in such program with high school courses leading to the granting of a
13 high school diploma and college-level courses leading to the granting of
14 a post-secondary degree or diploma at a partnering college approved by
15 the department and career training with an eligible partnering employer;
16 b. "eligible applicant" means a New York state school district, which
17 must serve as the fiscal agent. The eligible applicant may work in coop-
18 eration with other school districts, a board of cooperative educational
19 services, or any combination of these entities with a partnership that
20 includes:
21 (i) one or more New York state not-for-profit higher education insti-
22 tutions provided that at least one institution offers an associate's
23 degree (or other two-year degree that is the industry standard for the
24 targeted jobs) linked to the goals of the approved P-TECH program, and
25 which awards the degree at no cost to the student/family; and
26 (ii) a regional New York state employer (or consortium of employers
27 from related sectors) and/or industry/entity/association that requires
28 highly skilled employees which will utilize the knowledge and skills
29 obtained from the secondary and post-secondary programs proposed under
30 the application and agrees to place students who successfully complete
31 the program first in line for a job; and
32 c. "eligible student" means a student who:
33 (i) is a resident of the school district, or a resident of a component
34 district of a consortium applicant, in which the P-TECH program is
35 located and is enrolled in such school district; and
36 (ii) is registered to attend such high school for the academic years
37 for which the grant award is being sought.
38 3. Monies made available under this section shall be spent for the
39 following purposes, as further prescribed by the commissioner in the
40 request for proposals process:
41 a. existing evidence-based and/or standards based curriculum that
42 focuses on a career in science, technology, engineering or math-related
43 career area within a P-TECH program;
44 b. recruitment activities for eligible students;
45 c. to provide professional development to promote the P-TECH program,
46 including cross-curriculum development between partners and to ensure
47 curriculum alignment that prepares students to succeed in college level
48 courses while in high school and during career training;
49 d. up to ten percent of funds awarded under this section may be used
50 for eligible applicants to purchase equipment needed to upgrade existing
51 programs or new equipment to start a program;
52 e. workshops and planning meetings between partners, including counse-
53 lors, parents, and college faculty, and business leaders to support
54 program sustainability and build awareness in the regions on the bene-
55 fits of having such programs;
S. 1131--C 5
1 f. post-secondary curriculum development that facilitates alignment
2 and articulation with secondary programs leading to college degrees
3 and/or other industry recognized credentials that meet the needs of
4 employers;
5 g. service contracts between members of the partnership;
6 h. transportation for eligible students to take courses and partic-
7 ipate in activities at the partner campus of the higher education part-
8 ner; and
9 i. tuition, books and fees; provided that tuition reimbursement shall
10 only be allowable for non-remedial, credit-bearing college courses.
11 4. The commissioner shall make grant awards to eligible applicants for
12 an approved P-TECH program.
13 a. Funds must first be set aside for those approved P-TECH programs
14 that were funded under the previous request for proposals process for
15 any cohort of students in such program so they can obtain a cost-free
16 associate's degree.
17 b. The commissioner may also make awards to eligible applicants for an
18 approved P-TECH program through a competitive request for proposals
19 process. The funding cycle for this program shall be for seven years
20 commencing with the two thousand twenty-two--two thousand twenty-three
21 academic year, subject to an appropriation, with a new grant cycle
22 commencing every seven years.
23 c. The commissioner shall prioritize partnerships that demonstrate the
24 willingness and capacity to serve students who have been identified as
25 economically disadvantaged or academically disadvantaged and at-risk for
26 not successfully completing high school or not enrolling in or succeed-
27 ing in college.
28 d. For awards made under a new request for proposals process, priority
29 shall also be given to P-TECH programs that were funded by the depart-
30 ment under a prior request for proposals process, based upon demon-
31 stration of successful student outcomes as determined by the commission-
32 er in regulations.
33 5. Eligible applicants shall file an application for approval by the
34 commissioner in a timeframe and manner prescribed by the commissioner,
35 demonstrating a need for such funding, including how the funding would
36 be used and how many students would be assisted with such funding.
37 Successful applicants will be funded as provided in accordance with
38 regulations of the commissioner and the request for proposals process.
39 6. No funds pursuant to this section shall be made available to
40 support the regular academic programs of any institution participating
41 in this program, nor shall funds be provided for programs which are
42 incompatible with the regents plan for the expansion and development of
43 higher education in this state.
44 § 4. The sum of thirty-six million dollars ($36,000,000), or so much
45 thereof as may be necessary, is hereby appropriated to the education
46 department out of any moneys in the state treasury general fund to the
47 credit of the aid to localities/local assistance account, not otherwise
48 appropriated, as follows:
49 a. thirteen million dollars for payment of grants to eligible insti-
50 tutions for early college high school programs in accordance with the
51 provisions of section 6457 of the education law, as added by section two
52 of this act. Such sum shall be payable on the audit and warrant of the
53 state comptroller on vouchers certified or approved by the commissioner
54 of education, in the manner prescribed by law.
55 b. twenty-three million dollars for payment of grants to eligible
56 institutions for pathways in technology early college high school
S. 1131--C 6
1 programs in accordance with the provisions of section 6458 of the educa-
2 tion law, as added by section three of this act. Such sum shall be paya-
3 ble on the audit and warrant of the state comptroller on vouchers certi-
4 fied or approved by the commissioner of education, in the manner
5 prescribed by law.
6 § 5. This act shall take effect immediately.
