S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
276
2011-2012 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
(PREFILED)
January 5, 2011
___________
Introduced by M. of A. MONTESANO, SALADINO, FINCH -- Multi-Sponsored by
-- M. of A. RAIA -- read once and referred to the Committee on Educa-
tion
AN ACT to direct the department of education to develop a pilot program
that maximizes the use of technology to allow parents to keep track of
their children's academic progress toward meeting the state's educa-
tional standards
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Legislative intent. In recent years, the state legislature
has taken several steps to ensure that students, teachers and parents
are provided with the tools necessary to assist students in achieving
the state's learning standards. The legislature finds that teachers and
parents deserve more flexibility in the recording and accessing of grade
information to track individual and class grades and attendance. The
legislature finds that the enactment of this act will provide teachers
with a more flexible grading system that allows the tracking of individ-
ual and class grades, the development of academic reports, and the pres-
entation of individual student academic performance records on the
internet. The legislature finds that the enactment of this act will
provide parents of middle and high school grade level students with
secure internet access, hosted by the department of education to indi-
vidual academic performance and attendance records at no cost.
S 2. Short title. This act shall be known and may be cited as the
"internet grade book act".
S 3. (a) The department of education is hereby authorized and directed
to create a statewide internet pilot program to be known as the "grade
book program" to be made available on a voluntary basis to all school
districts for a two-year period. This program shall, at a minimum allow
parents of middle and high school students to access, via the internet,
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02294-01-1
A. 276 2
their child's academic progress toward meeting the state's educational
standards.
(b) School districts that choose to participate in such program shall
be required to provide parents of all middle and high school students
with, at a minimum, their children's weekly updated grades, attendance
records and upcoming homework assignments.
(c) The criteria for awarding contracts for this program shall
include, but not necessarily be limited to: the experience the company
has in providing internet related academic support services to school
districts; the extent to which the program will be easily accessible to
parents and teachers; and the cost of the provider's services.
S 4. The department of education is authorized and directed to conduct
a study of the program during its second year period. Such study shall
include, but not be limited to:
(a) an assessment of the extent to which the program assists parents
in tracking the academic progress of their children; and
(b) an assessment of whether and how further investment into the
program is appropriate for the state. Such study and recommendations
shall be submitted to the legislature no later than one year following
the completion of the program's first year.
S 5. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after
it shall have become a law and shall apply to the academic school year
next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law; provided,
however, that effective immediately, the department of education may
promulgate any rules or regulations necessary for the timely implementa-
tion of this act on such effective date.