STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
3719
2013-2014 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
February 12, 2013
___________
Introduced by Sen. MARCELLINO -- read twice and ordered printed, and
when printed to be committed to the Committee on Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to directing the commis-
sioner of education to establish performance standards for school
districts for exemption from requirements mandated by the state
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. School district exemption from certain requirements; perform-
4 ance standards. The commissioner is hereby authorized and directed to
5 establish a program to exempt school districts that meet specific
6 performance standards from certain requirements mandated by the state
7 and imposed on school districts pursuant to chapter fifty-seven of the
8 laws of two thousand eleven. The commissioner shall:
9 1. establish what categories within the educational system shall be
10 used for evaluating school district performance. Such categories shall
11 include, but not be limited to, test scores, student attendance and
12 graduation rates;
13 2. establish standards, criteria and levels of performance and
14 achievement that a school district must meet in each such category in
15 order to be eligible for exemption from such requirements;
16 3. notify each school district of the categories established pursuant
17 to subdivision one of this section and the standards, criteria and
18 levels established pursuant to subdivision two of this section. Such
19 notification shall be made annually and in a manner and at a time to
20 allow school districts sufficient time for review prior to the commence-
21 ment of the school year;
22 4. determine from which requirements a school district meeting such
23 standards, criteria and levels shall be exempt;
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD08762-01-3
S. 3719 2
1 5. determine if different sets of such standards, criteria and levels
2 should be used for school districts due to differences in the size and
3 demographics of school districts across the state;
4 6. establish an application procedure whereby a school district may
5 demonstrate that it has met such standards, criteria and levels and
6 apply for exemption from such requirements;
7 7. grant exemption from such requirements to school districts for
8 which an application for exemption is approved;
9 8. determine the length of time that a school district that has been
10 granted an exemption from such requirements shall remain exempt; and
11 9. promulgate rules and regulations consistent with and necessary to
12 implement the provisions of this section.
13 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately and shall apply to school
14 years beginning on or after July 1, 2014.
