Bill Text: NY S06641 | 2009-2010 | General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: Establishes a parent participation board in each community school district in the city school district of the city of New York; directs such boards to each establish an office of education ombudsperson; directs borough presidents to establish and maintain parent academies to provide training to parents and members of parent participation boards.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-01-21 - REFERRED TO EDUCATION [S06641 Detail]
Download: New_York-2009-S06641-Introduced.html
S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K ________________________________________________________________________ 6641 I N S E N A T E January 21, 2010 ___________ Introduced by Sen. MONSERRATE -- 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 establishing a parent participation board and an office of education ombudsperson for each community school district in the city school district of the city of New York, and directing each borough president of the city of New York to establish a parent academy 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 three new sections 2 2590-cc, 2590-ee and 2590-v to read as follows: 3 S 2590-CC. PARENT PARTICIPATION BOARDS; COMPOSITION, POWERS AND 4 DUTIES. 1. THERE SHALL BE ESTABLISHED AND MAINTAINED A PARENT PARTIC- 5 IPATION BOARD WITHIN EACH COMMUNITY DISTRICT. EACH PARENT PARTICIPATION 6 BOARD SHALL BE COMPOSED OF FIFTY-ONE VOTING MEMBERS, EACH OF WHOM SHALL 7 SERVE A TERM OF TWO YEARS. SUCH MEMBERS SHALL BE APPOINTED AS FOLLOWS: 8 (A) SEVENTEEN MEMBERS SHALL BE APPOINTED BY THE BOROUGH PRESIDENT OF 9 THE BOROUGH IN WHICH THE COMMUNITY DISTRICT IS LOCATED; 10 (B) SEVENTEEN MEMBERS SHALL BE APPOINTED BY A MAJORITY VOTE OF THE 11 CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK; AND 12 (C) SEVENTEEN MEMBERS SHALL BE APPOINTED BY A MAJORITY VOTE OF EACH 13 HOUSE OF THE LEGISLATURE. 14 2. OF THE MEMBERS APPOINTED TO A PARENT PARTICIPATION BOARD: 15 (A) NOT LESS THAN ONE MEMBER SHALL BE THE PARENT OF AN ENGLISH 16 LANGUAGE LEARNER ATTENDING A SCHOOL IN THE COMMUNITY DISTRICT; 17 (B) NOT LESS THAN ONE MEMBER SHALL BE THE PARENT OF A STUDENT RECEIV- 18 ING SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES IN A SCHOOL IN THE COMMUNITY DISTRICT; 19 (C) NOT LESS THAN ONE MEMBER SHALL BE OR HAVE BEEN A GRADUATING SENIOR 20 FROM A HIGH SCHOOL IN THE COMMUNITY DISTRICT DURING HIS OR HER TERM OF 21 OFFICE; 22 (D) NOT LESS THAN ONE MEMBER SHALL BE THE PARENT OF A STUDENT ATTEND- 23 ING A CHARTER SCHOOL IN THE COMMUNITY DISTRICT; 24 (E) NOT LESS THAN ONE MEMBER SHALL BE A TEACHER AT A SCHOOL IN THE 25 COMMUNITY DISTRICT, WHO IS A MEMBER OF THE UNITED FEDERATION OF TEACH- 26 ERS; 27 (F) NOT LESS THAN ONE MEMBER SHALL BE AN EMPLOYEE OF A SCHOOL IN THE 28 COMMUNITY DISTRICT, WHO IS A MEMBER OF DISTRICT COUNCIL 37; AND EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD14107-02-0 S. 6641 2 1 (G) NOT LESS THAN ONE MEMBER SHALL BE A MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL OF 2 SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS FOR THE COMMUNITY DISTRICT. 3 3. VACANCIES IN THE MEMBERSHIP OF A PARENT PARTICIPATION BOARD SHALL 4 BE FILLED IN THE MANNER PROVIDED FOR ORIGINAL APPOINTMENTS. THE MEMBERS 5 OF A PARENT PARTICIPATION BOARD MAY BE REAPPOINTED, PROVIDED THAT NO 6 MEMBER SHALL SERVE AS A MEMBER FOR MORE THAN EIGHT YEARS. 7 4. EVERY MEMBER OF A PARENT PARTICIPATION BOARD SHALL BE A RESIDENT OF 8 THE CITY OF NEW YORK, AND BE A RESIDENT OF, BE EMPLOYED IN OR HAVE A 9 CHILD ATTENDING A SCHOOL IN THE COMMUNITY DISTRICT. NO SUCH MEMBER SHALL 10 BE EMPLOYED BY A BOROUGH PRESIDENT, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEW 11 YORK OR THE STATE LEGISLATURE. EVERY MEMBER SHALL BE SUBJECT TO AND 12 SHALL COMPLY WITH ALL STATE AND CITY OF NEW YORK CONFLICT OF INTEREST 13 LAWS. 14 5. A MAJORITY OF THE DULY APPOINTED MEMBERS OF A PARENT PARTICIPATION 15 BOARD SHALL CONSTITUTE A QUORUM AND NOT LESS THAN A MAJORITY OF SUCH 16 MEMBERS CONCURRING MAY TRANSACT ANY BUSINESS OR PERFORM ANY DUTY OR 17 EXERCISE ANY POWER OF SUCH BOARD. 18 6. EACH PARENT PARTICIPATION BOARD SHALL ESTABLISH ITS OWN EXECUTIVE 19 BOARD WHICH SHALL BE COMPOSED OF THE FOLLOWING OFFICES ELECTED FROM THE 20 MEMBERSHIP OF SUCH BOARD: 21 (A) PRESIDENT; 22 (B) VICE-PRESIDENT; 23 (C) TREASURER; 24 (D) SECRETARY; AND 25 (E) ASSISTANT SECRETARY. 26 7. (A) EVERY PARENT PARTICIPATION BOARD SHALL ESTABLISH THE FOLLOWING 27 COMMITTEES: 28 (1) BUDGET AND FINANCE; 29 (2) SCHOOL CITING AND FACILITIES USAGE; 30 (3) SCHOOL SAFETY AND STUDENT ATTENDANCE; 31 (4) CURRICULUM AND TESTING; 32 (5) AFTER-SCHOOL AND GIFTED PROGRAMS; 33 (6) UNIVERSAL PRE-KINDERGARTEN AND EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION; 34 (7) SPECIAL EDUCATION; AND 35 (8) BILINGUAL EDUCATION. 36 (B) THE CHAIRPERSON OF EACH COMMITTEE SHALL BE APPOINTED BY THE PRESI- 37 DENT OF THE PARENT PARTICIPATION BOARD, WITH THE ADVICE AND CONSENT OF 38 THE EXECUTIVE BOARD; PROVIDED, THAT THE FOLLOWING COMMITTEES SHALL HAVE 39 THE FOLLOWING CO-CHAIRPERSONS: 40 (1) SPECIAL EDUCATION COMMITTEE: A MEMBER OF THE BOROUGH SPECIAL 41 EDUCATION COUNCIL APPOINTED BY THE BOROUGH PRESIDENT; AND 42 (2) BILINGUAL COMMITTEE: A MEMBER OF THE BOROUGH ENGLISH LANGUAGE 43 LEARNERS TASK FORCE APPOINTED BY THE BOROUGH PRESIDENT. 44 8. EVERY PARENT PARTICIPATION BOARD SHALL HAVE THE POWER AND DUTY TO: 45 (A) ESTABLISH ITS PROCEDURES AND BY-LAWS; 46 (B) PROVIDE ACCESS, ASSISTANCE AND ADVICE TO THE CHANCELLOR, CITY 47 DISTRICT AND DEPARTMENT ON ALL EDUCATION AND BUDGET ISSUES IN THE COMMU- 48 NITY DISTRICT; 49 (C) ESTABLISH FORMAL PROCESSES FOR REVIEW AND INPUT ON MATTERS OF 50 IMPORTANCE TO STUDENTS, PARENTS, TEACHERS AND THE COMMUNITY DISTRICT; 51 (D) ESTABLISH A FORMAL SCHOOL CITING PARENTAL REVIEW PROCEDURE FOR THE 52 REVIEW OF SCHOOL CITING, SELECTION, RESTRUCTURING, EXPANSION AND RECON- 53 FIGURATION BY CONVENING PUBLIC HEARINGS, SOLICITING INPUT FROM PARENTS, 54 TEACHERS AND THE COMMUNITY, AND ISSUING FORMAL RECOMMENDATIONS; 55 (E) CONDUCT AN ANNUAL REVIEW OF AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE FIVE- 56 YEAR CAPITAL PLAN AND COMMUNITY DISTRICT OPERATING COSTS; S. 6641 3 1 (F) PREPARE THE COMMUNITY DISTRICT REPORT CARD FOCUSING ON TEST 2 SCORES, ATTENDANCE, PUPIL TO TEACHER RATIO, GRADUATION RATE AND DROP OUT 3 RATE; 4 (G) ENGAGE AND CONSULT WITH COMMUNITY BASED ENTITIES INCLUDING COMMU- 5 NITY PLANNING BOARDS, PRECINCT COMMUNITY COUNCILS, PARENT ASSOCIATIONS, 6 PARENT AND TEACHER ASSOCIATIONS, AND SCHOOL LEADERSHIP TEAMS. PROVIDED 7 THAT THE PRESIDENT, OR HIS OR HER DESIGNEE, SHALL ATTEND AND REPORT UPON 8 EACH MEETING OF THE COMMUNITY PLANNING BOARD AND THE PRECINCT COMMUNITY 9 COUNCIL; 10 (H) REVIEW AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS ON ALL POLICY ISSUES BEFORE THE 11 PANEL FOR EDUCATION POLICY; AND 12 (I) PROVIDE FOR THE TERMINATION AND REMOVAL OF ANY MEMBER WHO FAILS TO 13 MEET THE QUALIFICATIONS OF MEMBERSHIP, OR FAILS TO FULFILL HIS OR HER 14 DUTIES BY NOT ENGAGING IN REGULAR ATTENDANCE AT AND PARTICIPATION IN 15 BOARD MEETINGS AND HEARINGS. 16 9. THE CHANCELLOR OR A MEMBER OF HIS OR HER OFFICE SHALL ANNUALLY 17 ATTEND NOT LESS THAN ONE MEETING OF EACH PARENT PARTICIPATION BOARD IN 18 THE CITY DISTRICT. THE COMMUNITY DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT SHALL ATTEND 19 EVERY MEETING OF THE PARENT PARTICIPATION BOARD. 20 S 2590-EE. OFFICE OF EDUCATION OMBUDSPERSON. 1. EACH PARENT PARTIC- 21 IPATION BOARD SHALL ESTABLISH AN OFFICE OF EDUCATION OMBUDSPERSON FOR 22 THE COMMUNITY DISTRICT. 23 2. THE OFFICE OF EDUCATION OMBUDSPERSON SHALL PROVIDE SUPPORT TO AND 24 OPERATE THE OFFICES OF THE PARENT PARTICIPATION BOARD. SUCH OFFICES' 25 DUTIES SHALL INCLUDE PARENTAL SERVICES, SUPERVISION OF STAFF, RECORD 26 KEEPING, MAINTAINING PARENT PARTICIPATION BOARD MEETINGS, PUBLIC NOTIFI- 27 CATION OF PARENT PARTICIPATION BOARD MEETINGS AND HEARINGS, AND FORMAL 28 COMMUNICATIONS WITH CITY OF NEW YORK AND STATE AGENCIES AND OFFICIALS. 29 3. SUCH OFFICE SHALL ACCEPT APPLICATIONS FOR MEMBERSHIP ON THE PARENT 30 PARTICIPATION BOARD, AND ENSURE THAT APPLICANTS AND MEMBERS MEET THE 31 QUALIFICATIONS FOR MEMBERSHIP THEREON PURSUANT TO SECTION TWENTY-FIVE 32 HUNDRED NINETY-CC OF THIS ARTICLE. 33 4. EVERY MEMBER OF A PARENT PARTICIPATION BOARD SHALL IMMEDIATELY 34 NOTIFY THE APPROPRIATE OFFICE OF EDUCATION OMBUDSPERSON OF ANY CHANGE 35 WHICH DISQUALIFIES SUCH MEMBER FROM MEMBERSHIP ON SUCH BOARD, AND SUCH 36 OFFICE SHALL NOTIFY THE APPOINTING OFFICER OR ENTITY OF SUCH MEMBER OF 37 HIS OR HER DISQUALIFICATION. 38 S 2590-V. PARENT ACADEMY. EVERY BOROUGH PRESIDENT IN THE CITY OF NEW 39 YORK SHALL ESTABLISH AND MAINTAIN A PARENT ACADEMY FOR HIS OR HER 40 BOROUGH. EACH PARENT ACADEMY SHALL PROVIDE TRAINING FOR ALL MEMBERS OF 41 THE PARENT PARTICIPATION BOARDS WITHIN THE BOROUGH; AND PROVIDE TRAINING 42 TO PARENTS OF CHILDREN ATTENDING SCHOOLS IN THE BOROUGH IN SKILLS BUILD- 43 ING, LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, EDUCATION POLICY, AND BUDGET AND FINANCE. 44 EACH ACADEMY SHALL ALSO PROVIDE PARENTS TO INTERACT TO LEARN HOW TO 45 ASSIST THEIR CHILDREN TO SUCCEED IN SCHOOL AND AFTER GRADUATION. THE 46 PARENT ACADEMIES SHALL BE TAILORED TO THE DIVERSE COMMUNITIES WITHIN THE 47 BOROUGH IN WHICH IT IS LOCATED IN ORDER TO FACILITATE THE MAXIMUM 48 INVOLVEMENT OF PARENTS IN THE BOROUGH. 49 S 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after 50 it shall have become a law; provided, that effective immediately any 51 actions necessary to implement the provisions of this act on its effec- 52 tive date are authorized and directed to be completed on or before such 53 date.