Assembly Bill A4788

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

                                  4788

                       2009-2010 Regular Sessions

                          I N  A S S E M B L Y

                            February 6, 2009
                               ___________

Introduced  by  M.  of  A.  P. RIVERA,  ROBINSON, SCOZZAFAVA, BOYLAND --
  Multi-Sponsored by -- M.  of A. ARROYO, COOK, CYMBROWITZ, DIAZ, MAYER-
  SOHN, ORTIZ, PEOPLES, POWELL, RAMOS, J. RIVERA, TOWNS, WRIGHT --  read
  once and referred to the Committee on Education

AN  ACT  to  amend  the  education  law, in relation to establishing the
  single gender core course academies demonstration program; and provid-
  ing for the repeal of such provisions upon the expiration thereof

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

  Section 1. The education law is amended by adding a new section 3209-b
to read as follows:
  S  3209-B.  SINGLE GENDER CORE COURSE ACADEMIES DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM.
1. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ESTABLISH A SINGLE GENDER CORE COURSE  ACADEMIES
DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM WHICH SHALL PROVIDE FOR THE INSTRUCTION OF COURSES
IN  ENGLISH, MATHEMATICS, SCIENCE AND SOCIAL STUDIES IN GENDER SEPARATED
CLASSES FOR A PORTION OF THE PUPILS IN EACH GRADE LEVEL  WITHIN  SCHOOLS
SELECTED  TO  PARTICIPATE  IN  SUCH  PROGRAM. ALL OTHER COURSES SHALL BE
INSTRUCTED IN COEDUCATIONAL CLASSES.
  2. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL DESIGNATE THE SCHOOLS WHICH SHALL  PARTICIPATE
IN  THE  SINGLE  GENDER CORE COURSE ACADEMIES DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM. THE
SCHOOLS SELECTED SHALL BE LOW-PERFORMING  SCHOOLS  WITHIN  EACH  OF  THE
CITIES  OF  NEW  YORK,  ROCHESTER,  SYRACUSE,  BUFFALO AND YONKERS. SUCH
PROGRAM SHALL BE IMPLEMENTED IN FOUR ELEMENTARY  SCHOOLS,  EIGHT  MIDDLE
SCHOOLS  AND  ONE  HIGH  SCHOOL OF THE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT OF EACH SUCH
CITY.
  3. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL IMPLEMENT THE SINGLE GENDER CORE COURSE ACADE-
MIES DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM IN CONJUNCTION WITH A  UNIVERSITY  CENTER  OF
THE  STATE  UNIVERSITY  OF NEW YORK, SELECTED BY THE COMMISSIONER, WHICH
OFFERS POST GRADUATE DEGREES IN EDUCATION. SUCH UNIVERSITY CENTER  SHALL
UTILIZE  SUCH  PROGRAM  TO  STUDY  AND  RESEARCH THE SOCIAL AND ACADEMIC
ACHIEVEMENTS AND GAINS OF STUDENTS PARTICIPATING  IN  THE  DEMONSTRATION

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD06672-01-9
              

A. 4788                             2

PROGRAM IN COMPARISON TO THE SOCIAL AND ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENTS OF A SIMI-
LARLY SITUATED GROUP OF STUDENTS NOT PARTICIPATING IN THE PROGRAM.
  4.  NO  STUDENT IN A PARTICIPATING SCHOOL SHALL BE REQUIRED TO PARTIC-
IPATE IN THE SINGLE GENDER CORE COURSE ACADEMIES  DEMONSTRATION  PROGRAM
WITHOUT  THE  CONSENT OF THEIR PARENT, GUARDIAN OR PERSON IN LOCO PAREN-
TIS.
  5. THE PROGRAM ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION  SHALL  BE  IMPLE-
MENTED  ON SEPTEMBER FIRST OR JANUARY FIRST, WHICHEVER SHALL OCCUR FIRST
AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SECTION.
  6. THE COMMISSIONER SHALL PROMULGATE RULES AND  REGULATIONS  REQUIRING
PARTICIPATING  SCHOOLS  TO  ANNUALLY  REPORT  TO  THE DEPARTMENT AND THE
UNIVERSITY CENTER,  SELECTED  PURSUANT  TO  SUBDIVISION  THREE  OF  THIS
SECTION,  MONITOR AND MAINTAIN RECORDS ON THE PROGRESS IN THE SCHOOL FOR
EACH SINGLE GENDER CORE COURSE  IN  EACH  GRADE  AND  GENDER.  ALL  SUCH
REPORTS  SHALL  BE COMPILED AND COMPARED TO DATA ON STUDENTS NOT PARTIC-
IPATING IN THE PROGRAM ESTABLISHED BY THIS SECTION, AND SHALL BE ANNUAL-
LY REPORTED ON OR BEFORE SEPTEMBER  FIRST  TO  THE  GOVERNOR,  TEMPORARY
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY.
  7.  EACH  PARTICIPATING SCHOOL SHALL PROVIDE THE INFORMATION, REQUIRED
TO BE SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION  SIX  OF  THIS
SECTION,  TO  THE PARENTS OF THE STUDENTS IN SUCH SCHOOL BY MEANS OF ITS
REGULARLY SCHEDULED PUBLICATIONS OR COMMUNICATIONS PROCESS.
  8. ON OR  BEFORE  AUGUST  THIRTY-FIRST,  TWO  THOUSAND  FOURTEEN,  THE
DEPARTMENT SHALL SUBMIT A REPORT TO THE GOVERNOR, TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF
THE  SENATE  AND  SPEAKER  OF  THE ASSEMBLY, ON THE PROGRESS ACHIEVED BY
PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS DURING THE ENTIRETY OF THE DEMONSTRATION  PROGRAM.
SUCH  PROGRESS  SHALL  BE REPORTED BASED ON GRADE LEVEL, COURSE SUBJECT,
GENDER, ETHNIC BACKGROUND AND SCHOOL.
  S 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after
it shall have become a law and  shall  expire  and  be  deemed  repealed
September  1, 2014; provided that any rules and regulations or any other
actions necessary to implement the provisions of this act on its  effec-
tive  date are authorized and directed to be completed on or before such
date.