STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
7921
IN SENATE
May 25, 2016
___________
Introduced by Sen. MARCELLINO -- read twice and ordered printed, and
when printed to be committed to the Committee on Finance
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
17 proceed to college and to earn a college degree by accelerating their
18 overall completion of a degree. It also better prepares them for
19 college-level coursework, which, will in turn, increase their academic
20 performance. Ultimately, this program increases graduation rates both at
21 the high school and college levels, especially for academically at-risk
22 students.
23 The P-TECH program, through a public-private partnership, prepares
24 thousands of New York students for high-skill jobs of the future in
25 technology, manufacturing, healthcare and finance. The P-TECH program
26 provides students with a rigorous, relevant and cost-free high school
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD15604-01-6
S. 7921 2
1 and college education and a workplace learning environment with ongoing
2 mentoring by professionals in the chosen career sector to better prepare
3 these students for successful careers. Students also receive a commit-
4 ment from the participating employer to be first in line for consider-
5 ation for a job following completion of the program. Ultimately, this
6 program increases graduation rates both at the high school and college
7 levels and provides essential career training for academically at-risk,
8 disadvantaged students, which at the completion of the program leads
9 these students to a skilled job.
10 The legislature hereby finds and declares it necessary to provide
11 funding for these programs to ensure that they continue in operation and
12 continue to provide students with these valuable services.
13 The legislature also finds and declares it necessary to provide addi-
14 tional funding for the state education department to administer and
15 evaluate these critical programs. These funds will support program staff
16 to supplement the oversight already being provided to these programs,
17 and ensure the timely and accurate analysis of data to further enhance
18 and validate these programs.
19 § 2. The education law is amended by adding a new section 6457 to read
20 as follows:
21 § 6457. Grant awards for New York state early college high school
22 programs. 1. Subject to an appropriation, the commissioner shall allo-
23 cate funds available for early college high school programs for the
24 purposes of increasing high school graduation rates for academically
25 at-risk, disadvantaged and/or economically disadvantaged students and to
26 increase their participation in post-secondary education through a
27 network of early college high school partnerships in the state.
28 2. For the purposes of this section:
29 a. "approved early college high school program" means a formal part-
30 nership between a school district and at least one institution of higher
31 education, approved by the commissioner in accordance with the regu-
32 lations of the commissioner and the request for proposals process, which
33 provides eligible students enrolled in such program with high school
34 courses leading to the granting of a high school diploma and college-
35 level courses leading to the granting of at least twenty-four college
36 credits and up to a post-secondary degree or diploma from a partner
37 institution of higher education at no cost to the student or student's
38 family.
39 b. "early college high school" means a public high school that offers
40 an approved early college high school program to its students;
41 c. "eligible applicant" means a New York state school district with an
42 approved early college high school program which partners with a not-
43 for-profit higher education institution to offer college-level courses
44 leading to the granting of at least twenty-four college credits and up
45 to a post-secondary degree or diploma;
46 d. "eligible student" means a student who:
47 (i) is a resident of the school district in which the early college
48 high school is located and is enrolled in such school district; and
49 (ii) is registered to attend such high school for the academic years
50 for which the grant award is being sought.
51 3. Monies made available under this section shall be spent for the
52 following purposes as further prescribed by the commissioner in the
53 request for proposals process:
54 a. to provide additional staffing for the early college high school
55 program, including a program director and college liaison;
56 b. student recruitment activities;
S. 7921 3
1 c. to provide professional development to promote the early college
2 high school program, including cross-curriculum development between
3 secondary and post-secondary education partners to ensure curriculum
4 alignment that prepares students to succeed in college level courses
5 while in high school;
6 d. academic and social support services to promote college readiness
7 and a college-going culture;
8 e. transportation for students to take courses and participate in
9 activities at the partner campus of the higher education partner; and
10 f. tuition, books and fees; provided however that tuition reimburse-
11 ment shall only be allowable for non-remedial, credit-bearing college
12 courses.
13 4. The commissioner shall make awards to eligible applicants for an
14 approved early college high school program through a competitive request
15 for proposals process. The funding cycle for this program shall be for
16 five years commencing with the two thousand sixteen--two thousand seven-
17 teen academic year, with a new grant cycle commencing every five years.
18 The program cycle shall be September first to August thirty-first annu-
19 ally.
20 a. The commissioner shall prioritize partnerships that demonstrate the
21 willingness and capacity to serve students who have been identified as
22 economically disadvantaged and/or academically at-risk for not success-
23 fully completing high school or not enrolling in or succeeding in
24 college.
25 b. Priority shall also be given to early college high school programs
26 that were funded by the department under a prior request for proposals
27 process, based upon demonstration of successful student outcomes as
28 determined by the commissioner in regulations.
29 5. Eligible institutions shall file an application for approval by the
30 commissioner in a timeframe and manner prescribed by the commissioner,
31 demonstrating a need for such funding, including how the funding would
32 be used and how many students would be assisted with such funding.
33 Successful applicants will be funded as provided in accordance with the
34 request for proposals process.
35 6. No funds pursuant to this section shall be made available to
36 support the regular academic programs of any institution participating
37 in this program, nor shall funds be provided for programs which are
38 incompatible with the regents plan for the expansion and development of
39 higher education in this state.
40 § 3. The education law is amended by adding a new section 6458 to read
41 as follows:
42 § 6458. Grant awards for pathways in technology early college high
43 school (P-TECH) programs. 1. Subject to an appropriation, the commis-
44 sioner shall allocate the funds available for P-TECH programs for the
45 purposes of preparing eligible academically at-risk and/or economically
46 disadvantaged students for high-skill jobs including, but not limited to
47 those in science, technology, engineering, manufacturing, healthcare and
48 finance through a six-year academic program that combines high school,
49 college and career training.
50 2. For the purposes of this section:
51 a. "approved pathways in technology early college high school (P-TECH)
52 program" means a New York state P-TECH program, approved by the commis-
53 sioner in accordance with the regulations of the commissioner and the
54 request for proposals process, which provides eligible students enrolled
55 in such program with high school courses leading to the granting of a
56 high school diploma and college-level courses leading to the granting of
S. 7921 4
1 a post-secondary degree or diploma at a partnering college approved by
2 the department and career training with an eligible partnering employer;
3 b. "eligible applicant" means a New York state school district, which
4 must serve as the fiscal agent. The eligible applicant may work in coop-
5 eration with other school districts, a board of cooperative educational
6 services, or any combination of these entities with a partnership that
7 includes:
8 (i) one or more New York state not-for-profit higher education insti-
9 tutions provided that at least one institution offers an associate's
10 degree (or other two-year degree that is the industry standard for the
11 targeted jobs) linked to the goals of the approved P-TECH program, and
12 which awards the degree at no cost to the student/family; and
13 (ii) a regional New York state employer (or consortium of employers
14 from related sectors) and/or industry/entity/association that requires
15 highly skilled employees which will utilize the knowledge and skills
16 obtained from the secondary and post-secondary programs proposed under
17 the application and agrees to place students who successfully complete
18 the program first in line for a job; and
19 c. "eligible student" means a student who:
20 (i) is a resident of the school district, or a resident of a component
21 district of a consortium applicant, in which the P-TECH program is
22 located and is enrolled in such school district; and
23 (ii) is registered to attend such high school for the academic years
24 for which the grant award is being sought.
25 3. Monies made available under this section shall be spent for the
26 following purposes, as further prescribed by the commissioner in the
27 request for proposals process:
28 a. existing evidence-based and/or standards based curriculum that
29 focuses on a career in science, technology, engineering or math-related
30 career area within a P-TECH program;
31 b. recruitment activities for eligible students;
32 c. to provide professional development to promote the P-TECH program,
33 including cross-curriculum development between partners and to ensure
34 curriculum alignment that prepares students to succeed in college level
35 courses while in high school and during career training;
36 d. up to ten percent of funds awarded under this section may be used
37 for eligible applicants to purchase equipment needed to upgrade existing
38 programs or new equipment to start a program;
39 e. workshops and planning meetings between partners, including counse-
40 lors, parents, and college faculty, and business leaders to support
41 program sustainability and build awareness in the regions on the bene-
42 fits of having such programs;
43 f. post-secondary curriculum development that facilitates alignment
44 and articulation with secondary programs leading to college degrees
45 and/or other industry recognized credentials that meet the needs of
46 employers;
47 g. service contracts between members of the partnership;
48 h. transportation for eligible students to take courses and partic-
49 ipate in activities at the partner campus of the higher education part-
50 ner; and
51 i. tuition, books and fees; provided that tuition reimbursement shall
52 only be allowable for non-remedial, credit-bearing college courses.
53 4. The commissioner shall make grant awards to eligible applicants for
54 an approved P-TECH program.
55 a. Funds must first be set aside for those approved P-TECH programs
56 that were funded under the previous request for proposals process for
S. 7921 5
1 any cohort of students in such program so they can obtain a cost-free
2 associate's degree.
3 b. The commissioner may also make awards to eligible applicants for an
4 approved P-TECH program through a competitive request for proposals
5 process. The funding cycle for this program shall be for seven years
6 commencing with the two thousand twenty--two thousand twenty-one academ-
7 ic year, subject to an appropriation, with a new grant cycle commencing
8 every seven years.
9 c. The commissioner shall prioritize partnerships that demonstrate the
10 willingness and capacity to serve students who have been identified as
11 economically disadvantaged or academically disadvantaged and at-risk for
12 not successfully completing high school or not enrolling in or succeed-
13 ing in college.
14 d. For awards made under a new request for proposals process, priority
15 shall also be given to P-TECH programs that were funded by the depart-
16 ment under a prior request for proposals process, based upon demon-
17 stration of successful student outcomes as determined by the commission-
18 er in regulations.
19 5. Eligible applicants shall file an application for approval by the
20 commissioner in a timeframe and manner prescribed by the commissioner,
21 demonstrating a need for such funding, including how the funding would
22 be used and how many students would be assisted with such funding.
23 Successful applicants will be funded as provided in accordance with
24 regulations of the commissioner and the request for proposals process.
25 6. No funds pursuant to this section shall be made available to
26 support the regular academic programs of any institution participating
27 in this program, nor shall funds be provided for programs which are
28 incompatible with the regents plan for the expansion and development of
29 higher education in this state.
30 § 4. The sum of thirty-five million dollars ($35,000,000), or so much
31 thereof as may be necessary, is hereby appropriated to the education
32 department out of any moneys in the state treasury general fund to the
33 credit of the aid to localities/local assistance account, not otherwise
34 appropriated, as follows:
35 a. thirteen million dollars for payment of grants to eligible insti-
36 tutions for early college high school programs in accordance with the
37 provisions of section 6457 of the education law, as added by section two
38 of this act. Such sum shall be payable on the audit and warrant of the
39 state comptroller on vouchers certified or approved by the commissioner
40 of education, in the manner prescribed by law.
41 b. twenty-three million dollars for payment of grants to eligible
42 institutions for pathways in technology early college high school
43 programs in accordance with the provisions of section 6458 of the educa-
44 tion law, as added by section three of this act. Such sum shall be paya-
45 ble on the audit and warrant of the state comptroller on vouchers certi-
46 fied or approved by the commissioner of education, in the manner
47 prescribed by law.
48 § 5. This act shall take effect immediately.