Bill Text: NY A08180 | 2017-2018 | General Assembly | Amended
Bill Title: Relates to continuing the early college high school programs and the pathways in technology early college high school programs in this state.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2018-01-03 - referred to ways and means [A08180 Detail]
Download: New_York-2017-A08180-Amended.html
STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 8180--A 2017-2018 Regular Sessions IN ASSEMBLY June 1, 2017 ___________ Introduced by M. of A. NOLAN, LUPARDO -- read once and referred 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 continuing the early college high school program and the pathways in technology early college high school program in this state 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, the New York state pathways in technology 4 early college high school program (P-TECH program) and career and tech- 5 nical high schools in this state which provide various students, includ- 6 ing those traditionally underrepresented in post-secondary education, 7 with the opportunity to access college-level courses and college degree 8 credits at the high school level with the combined support of high 9 school and college staff and resources, and for P-TECH programs and 10 career and technical high schools, career training and employment in a 11 highly skilled job upon completion of the program. 12 The early college high school program not only increases students' 13 access to higher education, but also reduces potential costs for 14 students in completing college degrees by allowing them to either 15 complete a degree upon graduation from high school or to apply their 16 earned college credits towards an associate's or baccalaureate's degree. 17 This innovative program provides incentives to high school students to 18 proceed to college and to earn a college degree by accelerating their 19 overall completion of a degree. It also better prepares them for 20 college-level coursework, which, will in turn, increase their academic 21 performance. Ultimately, this program increases graduation rates both at 22 the high school and college levels, especially for academically at-risk 23 students. EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [] is old law to be omitted. LBD11589-02-7A. 8180--A 2 1 The P-TECH program, through a public-private partnership, and career 2 and technical high schools, prepare thousands of New York students for 3 high-skill jobs of the future in technology, manufacturing, healthcare 4 and finance. The P-TECH program and career and technical high schools 5 provide students with a rigorous, relevant and cost-free high school and 6 college education and a workplace learning environment with ongoing 7 mentoring by professionals in the chosen career sector to better prepare 8 these students for successful careers. Students also receive a commit- 9 ment from the participating employer to be first in line for consider- 10 ation for a job following completion of the program. Ultimately, this 11 program increases graduation rates both at the high school and college 12 levels and provides essential career training for academically at-risk, 13 disadvantaged students, which at the completion of the program improves 14 students readiness for employment in a 21st century workplace. 15 The legislature hereby finds and declares it necessary to provide 16 funding for these programs to ensure that they continue in operation and 17 continue to provide students with these valuable services. 18 The legislature also finds and declares it necessary to provide addi- 19 tional funding for the state education department to administer and 20 evaluate these critical programs. These funds will support program staff 21 to supplement the oversight already being provided to these programs, 22 and ensure the timely and accurate analysis of data to further enhance 23 and validate these programs. 24 § 2. The education law is amended by adding a new section 6457 to read 25 as follows: 26 § 6457. Grant awards for New York state early college high school 27 programs. 1. Subject to an appropriation, the commissioner shall allo- 28 cate funds available for early college high school programs for the 29 purposes of increasing high school graduation rates for academically 30 at-risk, disadvantaged and/or economically disadvantaged students and to 31 increase their participation in post-secondary education through a 32 network of early college high school partnerships in the state. 33 2. For the purposes of this section: 34 a. "approved early college high school program" means a formal part- 35 nership between a school district and at least one institution of higher 36 education, approved by the commissioner in accordance with the regu- 37 lations of the commissioner and the request for proposals process, which 38 provides eligible students enrolled in such program with high school 39 courses leading to the granting of a high school diploma and college- 40 level courses leading to the granting of at least twenty-four college 41 credits and up to a post-secondary degree or diploma from a partner 42 institution of higher education at no cost to the student or student's 43 family; 44 b. "early college high school" means a public high school that offers 45 an approved early college high school program to its students; 46 c. "eligible applicant" means a New York state school district with an 47 approved early college high school program which partners with a not- 48 for-profit higher education institution to offer college-level courses 49 leading to the granting of at least twenty-four college credits and up 50 to a post-secondary degree or diploma, or a not-for-profit higher educa- 51 tion institution registered with the department which partners with a 52 New York state school district to offer an approved early college high 53 school program; and 54 d. "eligible student" means a student who: 55 (i) is a resident of the school district in which the early college 56 high school is located and is enrolled in such school district; andA. 8180--A 3 1 (ii) is registered to attend such high school for the academic years 2 for which the grant award is being sought. 3 3. Monies made available under this section shall be spent for the 4 following purposes as further prescribed by the commissioner in the 5 request for proposals process: 6 a. to provide additional staffing for the early college high school 7 program, including a program director and college liaison; 8 b. student recruitment activities; 9 c. to provide professional development to promote the early college 10 high school program, including cross-curriculum development between 11 secondary and post-secondary education partners to ensure curriculum 12 alignment that prepares students to succeed in college level courses 13 while in high school; 14 d. academic and social support services to promote college readiness 15 and a college-going culture; 16 e. transportation for students to take courses and participate in 17 activities at the partner campus of the higher education partner; and 18 f. tuition, books and fees; provided however that tuition reimburse- 19 ment shall only be allowable for non-remedial, credit-bearing college 20 courses. 21 4. The commissioner shall make awards to eligible applicants for an 22 approved early college high school program through a competitive request 23 for proposals process. The funding cycle for this program shall be for 24 five years commencing with the two thousand eighteen--two thousand nine- 25 teen academic year, with a new grant cycle commencing every five years. 26 The program cycle shall be September first to August thirty-first annu- 27 ally. 28 a. The commissioner shall prioritize partnerships that demonstrate the 29 willingness and capacity to serve students who have been identified as 30 economically disadvantaged and/or academically at-risk for not success- 31 fully completing high school or not enrolling in or succeeding in 32 college. 33 b. Priority shall also be given to early college high school programs 34 that were funded by the department under a prior request for proposals 35 process, based upon demonstration of successful student outcomes as 36 determined by the commissioner in regulations. 37 5. Eligible institutions shall file an application for approval by the 38 commissioner in a timeframe and manner prescribed by the commissioner, 39 demonstrating a need for such funding, including how the funding would 40 be used and how many students would be assisted with such funding. 41 Successful applicants will be funded as provided in accordance with the 42 request for proposals process. 43 6. No funds pursuant to this section shall be made available to 44 support the regular academic programs of any institution participating 45 in this program, nor shall funds be provided for programs which are 46 incompatible with the regents plan for the expansion and development of 47 higher education in this state. 48 § 3. The education law is amended by adding a new section 6458 to read 49 as follows: 50 § 6458. Grant awards for pathways in technology early college high 51 school (P-TECH) programs. 1. Subject to an appropriation, the commis- 52 sioner shall allocate the funds available for P-TECH programs for the 53 purposes of preparing eligible academically at-risk and/or economically 54 disadvantaged students for high-skill jobs including, but not limited to 55 those in science, technology, engineering, manufacturing, healthcare andA. 8180--A 4 1 finance through a five or six-year academic program that combines high 2 school, college and career training. 3 2. For the purposes of this section: 4 a. "approved pathways in technology early college high school (P-TECH) 5 program" means a New York state P-TECH program, approved by the commis- 6 sioner in accordance with the regulations of the commissioner and the 7 request for proposals process, which provides eligible students enrolled 8 in such program with high school courses leading to the granting of a 9 high school diploma and college-level courses leading to the granting of 10 a post-secondary degree or diploma at a partnering college approved by 11 the department and career training with an eligible partnering employer; 12 b. "eligible applicant" means a New York state school district, 13 including those districts with career and technical high schools, which 14 must serve as the fiscal agent. The eligible applicant may work in coop- 15 eration with other school districts, a board of cooperative educational 16 services, or any combination of these entities with a partnership that 17 includes: 18 (i) one or more New York state not-for-profit higher education insti- 19 tutions provided that at least one institution offers an associate's 20 degree (or other two-year degree that is the industry standard for the 21 targeted jobs) linked to the goals of the approved P-TECH program, and 22 which awards the degree at no cost to the student/family; and 23 (ii) a regional New York state employer (or consortium of employers 24 from related sectors) and/or industry/entity/association that requires 25 highly skilled employees which will utilize the knowledge and skills 26 obtained from the secondary and post-secondary programs proposed under 27 the application and agrees to place students who successfully complete 28 the program first in line for a job; and 29 c. "eligible student" means a student who: 30 (i) is a resident of the school district, or a resident of a component 31 district of a consortium applicant, in which the P-TECH program is 32 located and is enrolled in such school district; and 33 (ii) is registered to attend such high school including career and 34 technical high schools, for the academic years for which the grant award 35 is being sought. 36 3. Monies made available under this section shall be spent for the 37 following purposes, as further prescribed by the commissioner in the 38 request for proposals process: 39 a. existing evidence-based and/or standards based curriculum that 40 focuses on a career in science, technology, engineering or math-related 41 career area within a P-TECH program; 42 b. recruitment activities for eligible students; 43 c. to provide professional development to promote the P-TECH program, 44 including cross-curriculum development between partners and to ensure 45 curriculum alignment that prepares students to succeed in college level 46 courses while in high school and during career training; 47 d. up to ten percent of funds awarded under this section may be used 48 for eligible applicants to purchase equipment needed to upgrade existing 49 programs or new equipment to start a program; 50 e. workshops and planning meetings between partners, including counse- 51 lors, parents, and college faculty, and business leaders to support 52 program sustainability and build awareness in the regions on the bene- 53 fits of having such programs; 54 f. post-secondary curriculum development that facilitates alignment 55 and articulation with secondary programs leading to college degreesA. 8180--A 5 1 and/or other industry recognized credentials that meet the needs of 2 employers; 3 g. service contracts between members of the partnership; 4 h. transportation for eligible students to take courses and partic- 5 ipate in activities at the partner campus of the higher education part- 6 ner; and 7 i. tuition, books and fees; provided that tuition reimbursement shall 8 only be allowable for non-remedial, credit-bearing college courses. 9 4. The commissioner shall make grant awards to eligible applicants for 10 an approved P-TECH program. 11 a. Funds must first be set aside for those approved P-TECH programs 12 that were funded under the previous request for proposals process for 13 any cohort of students in such program so they can obtain a cost-free 14 associate's degree. 15 b. The commissioner may also make awards to eligible applicants for an 16 approved P-TECH program through a competitive request for proposals 17 process. The funding cycle for this program shall be for seven years 18 commencing with the two thousand twenty-one--two thousand twenty-two 19 academic year, subject to an appropriation, with a new grant cycle 20 commencing every seven years. 21 c. The commissioner shall prioritize partnerships that demonstrate the 22 willingness and capacity to serve students who have been identified as 23 economically disadvantaged or academically disadvantaged and at-risk for 24 not successfully completing high school or not enrolling in or succeed- 25 ing in college. 26 d. For awards made under a new request for proposals process, priority 27 shall also be given to P-TECH programs that were funded by the depart- 28 ment under a prior request for proposals process, based upon demon- 29 stration of successful student outcomes as determined by the commission- 30 er in regulations. 31 5. Eligible applicants shall file an application for approval by the 32 commissioner in a timeframe and manner prescribed by the commissioner, 33 demonstrating a need for such funding, including how the funding would 34 be used and how many students would be assisted with such funding. 35 Successful applicants will be funded as provided in accordance with 36 regulations of the commissioner and the request for proposals process. 37 6. No funds pursuant to this section shall be made available to 38 support the regular academic programs of any institution participating 39 in this program, nor shall funds be provided for programs which are 40 incompatible with the regents plan for the expansion and development of 41 higher education in this state. 42 § 4. This act shall take effect immediately.