Bill Text: NY A11047 | 2017-2018 | General Assembly | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Continues NYS Smart Scholars early college high school program and the NYS pathways in technology early college high school program.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2018-06-15 - print number 11047a [A11047 Detail]

Download: New_York-2017-A11047-Introduced.html

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                STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________
                                          11047
                   IN ASSEMBLY
                                      May 31, 2018
                                       ___________
        Introduced  by  COMMITTEE  ON RULES -- (at request of M. of A. Nolan) --
          read once and referred to the Committee on Education
        AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation  to  continuing  the  New
          York  State  Smart  Scholars Early College High School Program and the
          New York State  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.  The education law is amended by adding  two  new  sections
     2  6457 and 6458 to read as follows:
     3    §  6457.  Grant awards for New York State Smart Scholars Early College
     4  High School Programs. 1. For the purposes of this section:
     5    a. "NYS Smart Scholars Early College  High  School  Program"  means  a
     6  formal  partnership  between a school district and at least one institu-
     7  tion of higher education which provides eligible  students  enrolled  in
     8  such  program with high school courses leading to the granting of a high
     9  school diploma, and college-level courses leading to the granting of  at
    10  least  twenty-four  college credits and up to a post-secondary degree or
    11  diploma from such partner institution or institutions of  higher  educa-
    12  tion at no cost to the student or student's family.
    13    b.  "Approved  NYS  Smart  Scholars Early College High School program"
    14  means a NYS Smart Scholars Early College High School Program,  and  such
    15  program  was  approved  by the commissioner in accordance with the regu-
    16  lations of the commissioner and  any  request  for  proposals  processed
    17  under this section.
    18    c. "NYS Smart Scholars Early College High School" or "NYS Smart Schol-
    19  ars  ECHS"  means a public high school that offers an approved NYS Smart
    20  Scholars Early College High School Program to its students.
    21    d. "Eligible applicant" means a state  school  district,  a  board  of
    22  cooperative  educational  services, or a not-for-profit higher education
    23  institution registered with the department, in  a  partnership  for  the
    24  purpose  of  offering  a  NYS  Smart  Scholars Early College High School
    25  Program to the eligible students of the school  district.  The  eligible
    26  applicant  may  work in cooperation with other school districts, a board
         EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD15301-07-8
        A. 11047                            2
     1  of cooperative educational services, or any combination of  these  as  a
     2  consortium applicant.
     3    e. "Eligible student" means a student who:
     4    (i) is a resident of the school district, or a resident of a component
     5  district  of  a  consortium  applicant,  in which the NYS Smart Scholars
     6  Early College High School is located and  is  enrolled  in  such  school
     7  district; and
     8    (ii) is registered to attend such high school.
     9    f.  "Previously  funded  NYS  Smart Scholars Early College High School
    10  Program" means a NYS Smart Scholars Early College  High  School  Program
    11  that was approved by the commissioner in any prior request for proposals
    12  process before the effective date of this section.
    13    2.  a.  Subject  to an appropriation and the procedures established in
    14  this section, the commissioner shall allocate funds  available  for  NYS
    15  Smart  Scholars ECHS Programs for the purposes of increasing high school
    16  graduation rates for academically at-risk, and/or economically disadvan-
    17  taged students, and increasing  their  participation  in  post-secondary
    18  education through a network of early college high school partnerships in
    19  the  state.    Funding shall be available to previously funded, approved
    20  programs, and new programs, with priority given to those  programs  that
    21  have already received funding.
    22    b.  Notwithstanding  any  other  provision  of  law to the contrary, a
    23  program shall be eligible for funding under this section and  shall  not
    24  have  to  apply  for  funding  under this section if it was a previously
    25  funded program or an approved NYS Early College High School Program that
    26  was funded  under  a  prior  request  for  proposals  process,  and  its
    27  contracts have been continuously renewed by the department in accordance
    28  with  all  applicable  laws  since  the  effective date of this section;
    29  provided, however, that such programs shall meet certain benchmarks  and
    30  program  requirements as prescribed by the department in order to demon-
    31  strate that it continues to be a  successful  NYS  Smart  Scholars  ECHS
    32  Program.  If  the  program  fails  to  meet  such benchmarks and program
    33  requirements,  it  may  be  subject  to  certain  corrective  action  as
    34  described  in regulations of the commissioner, which may include but not
    35  be limited to establishing timelines to meet program standards, a  limi-
    36  tation  on enrollment, termination of the contract and/or closure of the
    37  program and/or requiring a teach-out  agreement  with  an  approved  NYS
    38  Smart Scholars ECHS Program to describe how students will be transferred
    39  to such program upon closure.
    40    c.  Any  NYS  Smart Scholars ECHS Program approved pursuant to a prior
    41  request for proposals process shall not  be  required  to  re-apply  for
    42  funds under this section unless such program is offering a new NYS Smart
    43  Scholars ECHS Program, as determined by the commissioner.
    44    3.  a. Subject to an appropriation, the commissioner shall make awards
    45  to eligible applicants for the establishment of new NYS  Smart  Scholars
    46  ECHS Programs through a competitive request for proposals process.
    47    b.  The  commissioner shall prioritize eligible applicants that demon-
    48  strate the willingness and capacity to  serve  students  who  have  been
    49  identified as economically disadvantaged and/or academically at-risk for
    50  not  successfully completing high school or not enrolling in or succeed-
    51  ing in college.
    52    c. Eligible applicants shall file an application for approval  by  the
    53  commissioner  in  a timeframe and manner prescribed by the commissioner,
    54  demonstrating a need for such funding, including how the  funding  would
    55  be  used  and  how  many  students  would be assisted with such funding.
        A. 11047                            3
     1  Successful applicants will be funded as provided in accordance with  the
     2  request for proposals process.
     3    4.  a. Monies made available under this section shall be spent for the
     4  following purposes as further prescribed by the  commissioner  in  regu-
     5  lation:
     6    (i)  to  provide  additional  staffing for the NYS Smart Scholars ECHS
     7  Program, including a program director and college liaison;
     8    (ii) for student recruitment activities;
     9    (iii) to provide professional development to  promote  the  NYS  Smart
    10  Scholars  ECHS  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    (iv) for workshops and planning meetings between  partners,  including
    15  counselors,  parents,  and college faculty, to support program sustaina-
    16  bility and build awareness in the district on  the  benefits  of  having
    17  such programs;
    18    (v)  for academic and social support services to promote college read-
    19  iness and a college-going culture;
    20    (vi) for transportation for students to take courses  and  participate
    21  in  activities  at  the  NYS Smart Scholars ECHS site and at the partner
    22  campus of the higher education partners; and
    23    (vii) for tuition, books  and  fees;  provided  however  that  tuition
    24  reimbursement  shall  only be allowable for non-remedial, credit-bearing
    25  college courses.
    26    b. No funds spent pursuant to this section shall be made available  to
    27  support the regular academic programs of any school district or institu-
    28  tion  or  institutions participating in this program, nor shall funds be
    29  provided for programs which are incompatible with the regents  plan  for
    30  the expansion and development of higher education in this state.
    31    §  6458.  Grant awards for New York State pathways in technology early
    32  college high school programs. 1. For the purposes of this section:
    33    a. "NYS Pathways in Technology Early College High School  Program"  or
    34  "NYS  P-TECH  Program"  means a program which provides eligible students
    35  enrolled in such program with high school courses leading to the  grant-
    36  ing  of  a  high  school  diploma,  college-level courses leading to the
    37  granting of a post-secondary degree at  a  partnering  institution,  and
    38  career  training  with an eligible partnering employer operated by a New
    39  York state  school  district  or  a  board  of  cooperative  educational
    40  services that forms a partnership with:
    41    (i)  one or more New York state not-for-profit higher education insti-
    42  tution or institutions registered with the department provided  that  at
    43  least  one  institution  offers an associate's degree (or other two-year
    44  degree that is the industry standard for the targeted  jobs)  linked  to
    45  the  goals  of the NYS P-TECH program, and which awards the degree at no
    46  cost to the student/family; and
    47    (ii) a regional New York state employer (or  consortium  of  employers
    48  from  related  sectors) and/or industry/entity/association that requires
    49  highly skilled employees which will utilize  the  knowledge  and  skills
    50  obtained  from  the  secondary and post-secondary programs and agrees to
    51  place students who successfully complete the program with  the  opportu-
    52  nity to be first in line for a job.
    53    b.  "Approved  NYS P-TECH Program" means a NYS P-TECH Program and such
    54  program was approved by the commissioner in accordance  with  the  regu-
    55  lations  of the commissioner and any request for proposals process under
    56  this section.
        A. 11047                            4
     1    c. "Eligible applicant"  means  a  New  York  state  school  district,
     2  including  those  districts with career and technical high schools, or a
     3  board of cooperative educational services, either of which must serve as
     4  the fiscal agent. The eligible applicant may work  in  cooperation  with
     5  other  school districts, a board of cooperative educational services, or
     6  any combination of these as a consortium applicant.
     7    d. "Eligible student" means a student who:
     8    (i) is a resident of the school district, or a resident of a component
     9  district of a consortium, in which the NYS P-TECH Program is located and
    10  is enrolled in such school district; and
    11    (ii) is registered to attend such high school.
    12    e. "Previously funded NYS P-TECH Program" means a NYS  P-TECH  Program
    13  that was approved by the commissioner in any prior request for proposals
    14  process before the effective date of this section.
    15    2.  a.  Subject  to an appropriation and the procedures established in
    16  this section, the commissioner shall allocate the  funds  available  for
    17  NYS  P-TECH Programs for the purposes of preparing eligible academically
    18  at-risk and/or economically disadvantaged students for  high-skill  jobs
    19  including, but not limited to those in science, technology, engineering,
    20  manufacturing,  healthcare,  and  finance  through  a  six-year academic
    21  program that combines high school, college, and career training. Funding
    22  shall be available to previously  funded,  approved  programs,  and  new
    23  programs,  with  priority  given  to  those  programs  that have already
    24  received funding.
    25    b. Notwithstanding any other provision  of  law  to  the  contrary,  a
    26  program  shall  be eligible for funding under this section and shall not
    27  have to apply for funding under this section  if  it  was  a  previously
    28  funded program or an approved NYS P-TECH Program that was funded under a
    29  prior request for proposals process; and its contracts have been contin-
    30  uously  renewed by the department in accordance with all applicable laws
    31  since the effective date of this section;  provided  that  such  program
    32  shall  meet certain benchmarks and program requirements as prescribed by
    33  the department in order  to  demonstrate  that  it  continues  to  be  a
    34  successful  NYS P-TECH Program. If the program fails to meet such bench-
    35  marks and program requirements, it may be subject to certain  corrective
    36  action  as  described  in  regulations  of  the  commissioner, which may
    37  include but not be limited to establishing  timelines  to  meet  program
    38  standards,  a  limitation  on  enrollment,  termination  of the contract
    39  and/or closure of the program and/or  requiring  a  teach-out  agreement
    40  with  an  approved  NYS  P-TECH Program to describe how students will be
    41  transferred to such program upon closure.
    42    c. Any NYS P-TECH Program approved pursuant to  a  prior  request  for
    43  proposals process shall not be required to re-apply for funds under this
    44  section unless they are offering a new NYS P-TECH Program, as determined
    45  by the commissioner.
    46    3.  a.  Subject to an appropriation the commissioner shall make awards
    47  to eligible applicants for the establishment of new NYS P-TECH  Programs
    48  through a competitive request for proposals process.
    49    b.  The  commissioner shall prioritize eligible applicants that demon-
    50  strate the willingness and capacity to  serve  students  who  have  been
    51  identified as economically disadvantaged and/or academically at-risk for
    52  not  successfully completing high school or not enrolling in or succeed-
    53  ing in college.
    54    c. Eligible applicants shall file an application for approval  by  the
    55  commissioner  in  a timeframe and manner prescribed by the commissioner,
    56  demonstrating a need for such funding, including how the  funding  would
        A. 11047                            5
     1  be  used  and  how  many  students  would be assisted with such funding.
     2  Successful applicants will be funded in accordance with the  regulations
     3  of the commissioner.
     4    4.  a. Monies made available under this section shall be spent for the
     5  following purposes, as further prescribed by the commissioner  in  regu-
     6  lations of the commissioner:
     7    (i) to provide additional staffing for the NYS P-TECH Program, includ-
     8  ing but not limited to a program director and college liaison;
     9    (ii)  for an existing evidence-based and/or standards based curriculum
    10  including but not limited to a focus on a career in science, technology,
    11  engineering, or math-related career area within a NYS P-TECH Program;
    12    (iii) for recruitment activities for eligible students;
    13    (iv) to provide professional development to  promote  the  NYS  P-TECH
    14  Program,  including cross-curriculum development between partners and to
    15  ensure  curriculum  alignment  that  prepares  students  to  succeed  in
    16  college-level courses while in high school and during career training;
    17    (v)  up to ten percent of funds awarded under this section may be used
    18  to purchase equipment needed to upgrade existing programs or new  equip-
    19  ment  to  start  a  program; provided that a program may seek permission
    20  from the commissioner for a waiver of the  ten  percent  cap,  and  such
    21  request  must include a justification for why equipment in excess of the
    22  cap is necessary to accomplish the goals of the NYS P-TECH Program;
    23    (vi) for workshops and planning meetings between  partners,  including
    24  counselors,  parents,  and  college  faculty,  and  business  leaders to
    25  support program sustainability and build awareness in  the  district  on
    26  the benefits of having such programs;
    27    (vii)  for  post-secondary  curriculum  development  that  facilitates
    28  alignment and articulation with secondary programs  leading  to  college
    29  degrees and/or other industry recognized credentials that meet the needs
    30  of employers;
    31    (viii) for service contracts between members of the partnership;
    32    (ix)  for  transportation  for  eligible  students to take courses and
    33  participate in activities at the NYS P-TECH site, at partner  employers'
    34  locations,  and  at  the partner campus of the higher education partner;
    35  and
    36    (x) for tuition, books and fees; provided that  tuition  reimbursement
    37  shall  only be allowable for non-remedial, credit-bearing college cours-
    38  es.
    39    b. No funds pursuant to  this  section  shall  be  made  available  to
    40  support the regular academic programs of any school district or institu-
    41  tion  or  institutions participating in this program, nor shall funds be
    42  provided for programs which are incompatible with the regents plans  for
    43  the expansion and development of higher education in this state.
    44    §  2. This act shall take effect on the first of April next succeeding
    45  the date upon which it shall have become a  law.  Effective  immediately
    46  the  addition,  amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation neces-
    47  sary for the implementation of  this  act  on  its  effective  date  are
    48  authorized to be made on or before such date.