New York A 10467: Continues NYS Smart Scholars early college high school program and the NYS pathways in technology early college high school program

Bill Text

STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________
                                          10467
                   IN ASSEMBLY
                                     April 25, 2018
                                       ___________
        Introduced  by  M.  of  A.  NOLAN  -- (at request of the State Education
          Department) -- 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.  Legislative  intent.  The  legislature  hereby  finds  and
     2  declares  it necessary to preserve and continue the New York State Smart
     3  Scholars early college high school program and the New York state  path-
     4  ways  in  technology  early college high school program (P-TECH program)
     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. The New York State
    11  Smart Scholars early college high  school  program  not  only  increases
    12  students'  access  to higher education, but also reduces potential costs
    13  for 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
    21  at  the  high  school  and  college  levels, especially for academically
    22  at-risk students.
    23    The New York State P-TECH program, through a  public-private  partner-
    24  ship, prepares thousands of New York students for high-skill jobs of the
    25  future  in  technology,  manufacturing,  healthcare and finance. The New
    26  York State P-TECH program provides students with  a  rigorous,  relevant
         EXPLANATION--Matter in  (underscored) is new; matter in bracketsitalics
                              [] is old law to be omitted. 
                                                                   LBD15301-02-8

        A. 10467                            2
     1  and cost-free high school and college education and a workplace learning
     2  environment with ongoing mentoring by professionals in the chosen career
     3  sector to better prepare these students for successful careers. Students
     4  also receive a commitment from the participating employer to be first in
     5  line  for  an opportunity for a job following completion of the program.
     6  Ultimately, this program increases graduation rates  both  at  the  high
     7  school  and  college  levels  and provides essential career training for
     8  academically at-risk, disadvantaged students, which at the completion of
     9  the program improves students' readiness for employment in a 21st centu-
    10  ry workplace.
    11    The legislature hereby finds and  declares  it  necessary  to  provide
    12  funding for these programs to ensure that they continue in operation and
    13  continue  to provide students with these valuable services. The legisla-
    14  ture also finds and declares it necessary to provide additional  funding
    15  for  the  state  education  department  to administer and evaluate these
    16  critical programs. These funds will support program staff to  supplement
    17  the  oversight  already being provided to these programs, and ensure the
    18  timely and accurate analysis of data to  further  enhance  and  validate
    19  these programs.
    20    § 2. The education law is amended by adding a new section 6457 to read
    21  as follows:
    22    §  6457.  Grant awards for New York State Smart Scholars early college
    23  high school programs. 1. Subject to an appropriation,  the  commissioner
    24  shall  allocate funds available for NYS Smart Scholars ECHS programs for
    25  the purposes of increasing high school graduation rates for academically