S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________

                                  3624

                       2009-2010 Regular Sessions

                          I N  A S S E M B L Y

                            January 27, 2009
                               ___________

Introduced  by M. of A. CLARK -- read once and referred to the Committee
  on Education

AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to establishing a  parent
  awareness week in all school districts

  THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section 1.  Legislative  intent.  The  legislature  hereby  finds  and
declares  that  a  child's  education  is a responsibility shared by the
school and family during the entire time the child spends in school; and
to support the goal of the schools to educate all students  effectively,
the  schools  and  parents  must  work  as  informed  partners; and that
although parents are diverse in culture, language, and needs,  they  are
an  integral  component  of a school's ability to provide for the educa-
tional success of their children; and that engaging parents is essential
to improve student achievement;  and  that  schools  should  foster  and
support active parental involvement and awareness.
  S  2. The education law is amended by adding a new article 100 to read
as follows:
                               ARTICLE 100
                          PARENT AWARENESS WEEK
SECTION 4950. PARENT AWARENESS WEEK; ESTABLISHED.
        4951. STAFF DEVELOPMENT.
        4952. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS.
        4953. REVIEW OF PLAN.
        4954. HIGHER EDUCATION.
  S 4950. PARENT AWARENESS WEEK; ESTABLISHED. 1.  DURING THE FIRST  FIVE
DAYS  OF  EACH  SCHOOL YEAR, EACH SCHOOL DISTRICT AND EACH SCHOOL WITHIN
ITS BOUNDARIES, IN COLLABORATION WITH PARENTS, SHALL ESTABLISH A  PARENT
AWARENESS  WEEK  INCLUDING  PROGRAMS AND PRACTICES THAT ENHANCE PARENTAL
INVOLVEMENT AND REFLECT THE SPECIFIC NEEDS OF STUDENTS AND  THEIR  FAMI-
LIES.

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD07165-01-9
              

A. 3624                             2

  2. THE PARENT AWARENESS WEEK IN EACH SCHOOL SHALL:
  A.  INVOLVE  PARENTS  OF  STUDENTS AT ALL GRADE LEVELS IN A VARIETY OF
ROLES;
  B. BE COMPREHENSIVE AND COORDINATED IN NATURE;
  C. (1) RECOGNIZE THAT COMMUNICATION BETWEEN HOME AND SCHOOL SHOULD  BE
REGULAR, TWO-WAY, AND MEANINGFUL.
  (2)  TO  ENCOURAGE COMMUNICATION WITH PARENTS THE SCHOOL SHALL PREPARE
AN INFORMATIONAL PACKET TO BE DISTRIBUTED ANNUALLY TO THE PARENT, APPRO-
PRIATE FOR THE AGE AND GRADE OF THE CHILD DESCRIBING:
  (I) THE SCHOOL'S PARENT AWARENESS WEEK;
  (II) THE RECOMMENDED ROLE OF THE PARENT, STUDENT, TEACHER, AND SCHOOL;
  (III) WAYS FOR THE PARENTS TO BECOME INVOLVED IN THE SCHOOL AND HIS OR
HER CHILD'S EDUCATION INCLUDING HOW AND WHERE THE  PARENT  COULD  VOLUN-
TEER;
  (IV)  ACTIVITIES  PLANNED  THROUGHOUT  THE  SCHOOL  YEAR  TO ENCOURAGE
PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT;
  (V) A SYSTEM TO  ALLOW  THE  PARENTS  TO  COMMUNICATE  IN  A  REGULAR,
TWO-WAY,  AND  MEANINGFUL MANNER WITH THE CHILD'S TEACHER AND THE SCHOOL
PRINCIPAL.
  (3) TO ENCOURAGE COMMUNICATION WITH PARENTS, THE SCHOOL SHALL SCHEDULE
NO LESS THAN TWO PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES PER SCHOOL YEAR.
  (4) THE SCHOOL MAY PLAN AND ENGAGE IN OTHER ACTIVITIES  DETERMINED  BY
THE SCHOOL TO BE BENEFICIAL TO ENCOURAGE COMMUNICATION WITH PARENTS;
  D. PROMOTE AND SUPPORT RESPONSIBLE PARENTING.
  E.  (1)  ACKNOWLEDGE  THAT  PARENTS PLAY AN INTEGRAL ROLE IN ASSISTING
STUDENT LEARNING.
  (2) TO HELP PARENTS IN ASSISTING STUDENTS, THE SCHOOL SHALL:
  (I) SCHEDULE REGULAR "PARENTS  MAKE  THE  DIFFERENCE"  EVENINGS  WHERE
PARENTS  ARE  GIVEN  A REPORT ON THE STATE OF THE SCHOOL AND AN OVERVIEW
OF:
  (A) WHAT STUDENTS WILL BE LEARNING;
  (B) HOW STUDENTS WILL BE ASSESSED;
  (C) WHAT PARENTS SHOULD EXPECT FOR THEIR CHILD'S EDUCATION; AND
  (D) HOW PARENTS CAN ASSIST AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN HIS OR HER CHILD'S
EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT; AND
  (II) ENGAGE IN OTHER ACTIVITIES  DETERMINED  BY  THE  SCHOOL  TO  HELP
PARENTS ASSIST IN HIS OR HER CHILD'S LEARNING;
  F. WELCOME PARENTS IN THE SCHOOL AND SEEK PARENTAL SUPPORT AND ASSIST-
ANCE.
  G. (1) RECOGNIZE THAT A PARENT IS A FULL PARTNER IN THE DECISIONS THAT
AFFECT HIS OR HER CHILD AND FAMILY.
  (2)  TO ENCOURAGE PARENTS TO PARTICIPATE AS FULL PARTNERS IN THE DECI-
SIONS THAT AFFECT HIS OR HER CHILD AND FAMILY, THE SCHOOL SHALL:
  (I) INCLUDE IN THE SCHOOL'S POLICY HANDBOOK THE SCHOOL'S  PROCESS  FOR
RESOLVING  PARENTAL  CONCERNS, INCLUDING HOW TO DEFINE THE PROBLEM, WHOM
TO APPROACH FIRST, AND HOW TO DEVELOP SOLUTIONS;
  (II) SPONSOR SEMINARS TO INFORM THE PARENTS OF  HIGH  SCHOOL  STUDENTS
ABOUT  HOW  TO  BE INVOLVED IN THE DECISIONS AFFECTING COURSE SELECTION,
CAREER PLANNING, AND PREPARATION FOR POST-SECONDARY OPPORTUNITIES; AND
  (III) ENGAGE IN OTHER  ACTIVITIES  THAT  THE  SCHOOL  DETERMINES  WILL
ENCOURAGE  PARENTS TO PARTICIPATE AS FULL PARTNERS IN THE DECISIONS THAT
AFFECT HIS OR HER CHILD AND FAMILY;
  H. (1) RECOGNIZE THAT COMMUNITY RESOURCES STRENGTHEN SCHOOL  PROGRAMS,
FAMILY PRACTICES, AND STUDENT LEARNING;
  (2) TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF COMMUNITY RESOURCES THE SCHOOL SHALL:

A. 3624                             3

  (I)  CONSIDER  RECRUITING  ALUMNI  FROM THE SCHOOL TO CREATE AN ALUMNI
SUPPORT ORGANIZATION TO PROVIDE ADVICE AND GUIDANCE FOR SCHOOL  IMPROVE-
MENT;
  (II)  ENGAGE  IN  OTHER ACTIVITIES THAT THE SCHOOL DETERMINES WILL USE
COMMUNITY RESOURCES TO STRENGTHEN SCHOOL PROGRAMS, FAMILY PRACTICES, AND
STUDENT LEARNING; AND
  I. SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT, IMPLEMENTATION, AND REGULAR EVALUATION  OF
THE  PROGRAM  TO  INVOLVE  PARENTS IN THE DECISIONS AND PRACTICES OF THE
SCHOOL DISTRICT, USING TO THE DEGREE POSSIBLE, THE COMPONENTS LISTED  IN
THIS SECTION.
  J.  (1)  THE  SUPERVISING PRINCIPAL OF EACH SCHOOL IN A DISTRICT SHALL
DESIGNATE ONE QUALIFIED STAFF MEMBER THAT  IS  WILLING  TO  SERVE  AS  A
PARENT FACILITATOR TO ORGANIZE MEANINGFUL TRAINING FOR STAFF AND PARENTS
PROMOTING AND ENCOURAGING A WELCOMING ATMOSPHERE TO PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT
IN  THE  SCHOOL AND TO UNDERTAKE EFFORTS TO ENSURE THAT PARENTAL PARTIC-
IPATION IS RECOGNIZED AS AN ASSET TO THE SCHOOL.
  (2) THE QUALIFIED  STAFF  SERVING  AS  A  PARENTAL  FACILITATOR  SHALL
RECEIVE SUPPLEMENTAL PAY FOR THE ASSIGNED DUTIES AS REQUIRED BY LAW.
  S  4951.  STAFF  DEVELOPMENT.    ADMINISTRATORS  OR QUALIFIED STAFF IN
CHARGE OF IMPLEMENTING PARENT AWARENESS WEEK MUST HAVE  SPECIAL  EXPERI-
ENCE OR THREE HOURS MANDATORY TRAINING ON HOW TO RELATE TO PARENTS, SUCH
SPECIAL EXPERIENCE OR MANDATORY TRAINING TO BE CERTIFIED AND PROMULGATED
BY THE COMMISSIONER.
  S  4952. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS. 1. LIAISONS OF TEACHERS AND PARENTS
SHALL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR DISSEMINATING INFORMATION TO PARENTS  REGARDING
EVENTS  TAKING  PLACE  DURING  PARENT  AWARENESS WEEK. LIAISONS SHALL BE
FORMED BY EACH RESPECTIVE GROUP WITHIN EACH SCHOOL INVOLVED.
  2. COMMUNICATIONS TO PARENTS REGARDING EVENTS OF THE WEEK SHALL BE  BY
PHONE,  E-MAIL,  NEWSLETTERS AND INFORMATION CARRIED HOME BY STUDENTS AS
BEST DETERMINED BY EACH SCHOOL.
  3. SCHOOLS ARE INSTRUCTED TO COMMUNICATE WITH PARENTS IN A MANNER THAT
FACILITATES UNDERSTANDING FOR PARENTS WITH A LANGUAGE  BARRIER  IF  SUCH
EXISTS.
  4.  PARENTS  SHALL  BE MADE AWARE OF SPECIFIC EVENTS INCLUDING BUT NOT
LIMITED TO ADMINISTERING AND GRADING OF  TESTS  AND  PARENT  ORIENTATION
ACTIVITIES  AND THE AVAILABILITY OF METHODS AND TOOLS OR MEANS OF COMMU-
NICATING WITH THE SCHOOL AND THEIR CHILDREN.
  S 4953. REVIEW OF PLAN. 1. EACH  YEAR,  EVERY  SCHOOL  DISTRICT  SHALL
REVIEW  AND  UPDATE THE DISTRICT'S PARENT AWARENESS WEEK PLAN AND FILE A
COPY OF THE DISTRICT'S PARENT AWARENESS WEEK PLAN WITH THE COMMISSIONER.
  2.  THE COMMISSIONER SHALL REVIEW EACH PLAN AND DETERMINE IF THE  PLAN
IS  IN  COMPLIANCE  WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ARTICLE.  IF THE COMMIS-
SIONER DETERMINES THAT A SCHOOL DISTRICT IS NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH  THIS
ARTICLE,  THE  COMMISSIONER SHALL SEND THE DISTRICT WRITTEN NOTIFICATION
INDICATING ANY DEFICIENCIES IN THE DISTRICT'S PLAN NO LATER THAN JANUARY
FIRST OF EACH YEAR AND ALLOW THE DISTRICT AN OPPORTUNITY TO CORRECT  ANY
DEFICIENCY.
  S 4954. HIGHER EDUCATION. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL COLLABORATE WITH INSTI-
TUTIONS  OF  HIGHER  LEARNING  TO  INCORPORATE  INTO  TEACHER  EDUCATION
PROGRAMS INFORMATION REGARDING THE IMPORTANCE  OF  PARENTAL  INVOLVEMENT
AND  HOW  TO  SUCCESSFULLY  ENCOURAGE  PARENTS  TO  BE PARTNERS IN THEIR
CHILD'S EDUCATION.  THE SCHOOLS SHALL MAINTAIN A RECORD OF THE  PARENT'S
ATTENDANCE,  THE  MEDIUM OF COMMUNICATION AND HOW THE VARIOUS ASPECTS OF
SAID WEEK WERE CARRIED OUT.
  S 2. This act shall take effect immediately.