Assembly Bill A302

                                BILL NUMBER:A302

TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the education law, in relation to community service
requirements for high school graduation

PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

This bill would require students to complete a community service program
in order to graduate from high school.

SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:

Section one of the bill adds a new section 815 to the Education Law.
The new section establishes a school based service learning program
based, in large part, on the Maryland program set forth in COMAR (Code
of Maryland Regulations) 13A.03.02.06, requiring students to participate
in community service learning programs in order to graduate from high
school.

Starting with the 9th grade class in the 2010-2011 school year, students
are to complete one of two community service options in order to gradu-
ate from high school. The first option, set forth in new Education Law
§815(1)(a) and 3(a), is a 40 hour requirement that complies with guide-
lines to be issued by the NYS Education Department. The second option,
              

set forth in new Education Law

§815(1)(b) and 3(b), is a locally designed program that has been
approved by the NYS Commissioner of Education or the Commissioner's
designee. The new requirements will first apply to students who graduate
from high school in the spring of 2014.

JUSTIFICATION:

This bill would require New York State high school students to complete
a community service program in order to graduate. This requirement will
help teach civic responsibility to students and make them more aware of
the issues facing their communities. Service learning will give students
the opportunity to apply the lessons that they have been taught in the
classroom to real life situations. The hands on experience that comes
with volunteering will open doors and help students make connections
that will further their life experiences as well as their future employ-
ment opportunities. In states such as Maryland, where students must
complete either 75 hours of service or a locally designed program
approved by the State Superintendent of Schools as a requirement for
high school graduation, the requirement has proved to be successful and
beneficial. According to Maryland Student Services Alliance, from 1998
to the present time "more than 99% of Maryland students complete their
service-learning requirement prior to graduation."  Service learning
programs in Maryland have continued to evolve and improve. High schools

students in New York State could also reap the benefits that come with
the experience of community/service learning.

PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

None. New bill.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

To be determined.

EFFECTIVE DATE:

This act shall take effect on July 1st next succeeding the date on which
it shall have become a law.