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

                                  6865

                       2009-2010 Regular Sessions

                          I N  A S S E M B L Y

                             March 13, 2009
                               ___________

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

AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to providing for partner-
  ships in education programs for parents and responsible adult mentors

  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  3036
to read as follows:
  S  3036. PARTNERSHIPS IN EDUCATION PROGRAM. 1. BOARDS OF EDUCATION AND
BOARDS OF COOPERATIVE EDUCATIONAL  SERVICES  ARE  HEREBY  AUTHORIZED  TO
PARTICIPATE  IN THE PARTNERSHIPS IN EDUCATION PROGRAM IN ACCORDANCE WITH
THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION.
  2. EACH  BOARD  OF  EDUCATION  OR  BOARD  OF  COOPERATIVE  EDUCATIONAL
SERVICES  SHALL  ADOPT A WRITTEN POLICY ON PARENT AND VOLUNTEER INVOLVE-
MENT AND SHALL APPROVE A PARENT AND VOLUNTEER  INVOLVEMENT  PROGRAM  FOR
EACH SCHOOL IN THE DISTRICT, SUCH PROGRAM TO BE DEVELOPED BY A COMMITTEE
COMPOSED  OF  EDUCATIONAL PROFESSIONALS, PARENTS, AND VOLUNTEERS IN THAT
SCHOOL. THE PROGRAM SHALL BE CONSISTENT WITH THE FOLLOWING PURPOSES:
  (A) TO POSITIVELY ENGAGE PARENTS AND OTHER RESPONSIBLE  ADULT  MENTORS
IN  THE  EDUCATIONAL  PROCESS  BY  HELPING PARENTS AND VOLUNTEER MENTORS
DEVELOP SKILLS AND PROGRAMS TO SUPPORT ACADEMIC EFFORTS  AT  SCHOOL  AND
STUDENT DEVELOPMENT AS RESPONSIBLE FUTURE MEMBERS OF SOCIETY;
  (B)  TO PROVIDE PARENTS AND OTHER RESPONSIBLE ADULT MENTORS WITH TECH-
NIQUES AND STRATEGIES THAT BUILD STUDENTS' ACADEMIC SUCCESS;
  (C) TO BUILD CONSISTENT AND EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE  HOME,
SCHOOL,  AND  COMMUNITY  SO PARENTS AND COMMUNITY MENTORS WILL KNOW WHEN
AND HOW TO SUPPORT STUDENTS' CLASSROOM LEARNING ACTIVITIES;
  (D) TO TRAIN TEACHERS, ADMINISTRATORS,  AND  BOARDS  OF  EDUCATION  TO
REGULARLY  COMMUNICATE  EFFECTIVELY  WITH PARENTS AND COMMUNITY MENTORS;
AND

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD04022-01-9

              

A. 6865                             2

  (E) TO TRAIN AND ENGAGE COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN DECISION MAKING REGARDING
SCHOOL POLICY AND PROCEDURES AFFECTING THE EDUCATIONAL PROCESS.
  3. EACH PROGRAM SHALL CONTAIN, BUT NEED NOT BE LIMITED TO, THE FOLLOW-
ING ELEMENTS:
  (A)  PROCEDURES TO FACILITATE CONSULTATION BETWEEN EDUCATIONAL PROFES-
SIONALS, PARENTS AND RESPONSIBLE  ADULT  MENTORS  IN  THE  COMMUNITY  TO
ENSURE  THEIR  PARTICIPATION IN THE PLANNING, DESIGN, IMPLEMENTATION AND
EVALUATION OF THE PROGRAM;
  (B) REGULAR AND PERIODIC  PRESENTATIONS  THROUGHOUT  THE  SCHOOL  YEAR
PROVIDING  TRAINING, INSTRUCTION, AND INFORMATION TO PARENTS AND MENTORS
CONSISTENT WITH THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION; AND
  (C) A DESIGNATED VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR WHO SHALL, TO THE EXTENT NECES-
SARY, MAINTAIN RECORDS OF ALL PARTNERSHIP  PROGRAMS,  COORDINATE  SCHED-
ULES, AND PROVIDE PERIODIC REPORTS TO THE GOVERNING SCHOOL BOARDS.
  4.  EACH  PARTICIPATING SCHOOL DISTRICT SHALL CONDUCT AN ANNUAL REVIEW
AND ASSESSMENT OF THE PROGRAM'S  PROGRESS  TOWARD  MEETING  THE  PROGRAM
OBJECTIVES.  SUCH  ASSESSMENT  AND  REVIEW SHALL INCLUDE A SURVEY OF ALL
RESIDENTS OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. PARENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS SHALL BE
MADE AWARE OF THE EXISTENCE OF THIS REVIEW AND ASSESSMENT THROUGH  REGU-
LAR  SCHOOL  COMMUNICATIONS  MECHANISMS  AND  SHALL BE GIVEN A COPY UPON
REQUEST.
  5. EACH SCHOOL DISTRICT SHALL ANNUALLY SUBMIT TO THE DEPARTMENT A COST
ACCOUNTING, SUCH ACCOUNTING TO BEGIN WITH  THE  FISCAL  YEAR  AFTER  THE
EFFECTIVE  DATE  OF  THIS  SECTION.    THE COMMISSIONER SHALL DEVELOP AN
INCENTIVE PROGRAM AND REVIEW THE PROCESS  TO  PROVIDE  SCHOOL  DISTRICTS
WITH ASSISTANCE IN FUNDING WHICH MAY BE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS PROGRAM.
  S 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after
it  shall have become a law; provided, however, that the commissioner of
education is authorized and directed to promulgate,  on  or  before  its
effective  date,  any  and  all rules and regulations and take any other
measures necessary to implement this act  on  or  before  its  effective
date.