Senate Bill S1570A

2011-2012 Legislative Session

Enacts the "Place a Child in Every School Seat Act of 2012" for the purposes of awareness of and incentives to improve school attendance

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Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Education Committee

Introduced
- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
Delivered to Governor
Signed By Governor

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Date of Action	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Jan 11, 2012	print number 1570a
Jan 11, 2012	amend (t) and recommit to education
Jan 04, 2012	referred to education
Jan 10, 2011	referred to education

Bill Amendments

co-Sponsors

2011-S1570 - Details

Current Committee:: Senate Education
Law Section:: Education Law
Laws Affected:: Add §3205-a, Ed L
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:: 2009-2010: S4372
2013-2014: S1574

2011-S1570 - Summary

Enacts the "Place a Child in Every School Seat Act" for the purposes of awareness of and incentives to improve school attendance and retention.

2011-S1570 - Sponsor Memo

                                BILL NUMBER:S1570

TITLE OF BILL:
An act
to amend the education law, in relation to the expenditure of
pre-kindergarten program grant funds

PURPOSE:
The Universal Prekindergarten Program (UPK) is a State-funded program
that provides educationally-based high-quality prekindergarten to
four year old children. UPK programs operate for a minimum of 2 1/2
hours per day for five days a week during the school year. This
legislation would provide school districts with greater flexibility
in the use of their unexpended UPK grants to maximize the number of
children who are served.

SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 would permit a school district which is eligible to receive
a UPK grant but unable to fill all of their funded slots the ability
to utilize unexpended grant money to create full-day slots, and
support the cost of transporting pre-k students.

Section 2 would revise a Maintenance of Effort (MOE) requirement that
penalizes school districts that provide supplemental funding to serve
more students than their UPK grant permits by reducing state aid if

they serve fewer students in a subsequent year.

JUSTIFICATION:
Early education programs provide a strong foundation for at-risk
children. Research has shown that children who are enrolled in high
quality pre-kindergarten programs are less likely to require special
education services, repeat grades or drop out of school. However,
full implementation of UPK has not been realized.

Approximately 220 school districts in the state have yet to implement
UPK due primarily to restrictions in how the funding is used.
Information reported to the state Education Department has indicated
that uncertainty about funding; insufficient per-pupil allocations;
parental desire for full-day programs; and the lack of transportation
for pre-k program are all barriers to full enrollment. The City of
New York was unable to use over $25 million in UPK funding in the
2008-2009 SPY, due to these restrictions. This legislation would
allow school districts to more fully utilize their UPK grant and
remove disincentives for districts to serve additional students when
economically possible.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2011-12: 8.1580A - Referred to Education
S.6777 of 2009-10 - Passed Senate

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None.

EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2014

2011-S1570 - Bill Text download pdf

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

                                  1570

                       2011-2012 Regular Sessions

                            I N  S E N A T E

                            January 10, 2011
                               ___________

Introduced by Sens. OPPENHEIMER, PARKER -- read twice and ordered print-
  ed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Education

AN  ACT to amend the education law, in relation to enacting the "Place a
  Child in Every School Seat Act of 2011"

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

  Section  1.  This  act shall be known and may be cited as the "place a
child in every school seat act of 2011".
  S 2. The education law is amended by adding a new  section  3205-a  to
read as follows:
  S  3205-A.  "PLACE  A  CHILD IN EVERY SCHOOL SEAT ACT OF 2011"; PUBLIC
AWARENESS OF PUBLIC SCHOOL ATTENDANCE; INCENTIVES TO IMPROVE ATTENDANCE.
1. THE DEPARTMENT IS HEREBY DIRECTED TO ESTABLISH A PUBLIC AWARENESS AND
EDUCATION CAMPAIGN THAT INCLUDES, BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO, EMPHASIZING THE
BENEFITS OF ATTENDING SCHOOL AND EARNING, AT A MINIMUM,  A  HIGH  SCHOOL
DIPLOMA,  AND  THE  POTENTIAL  CONSEQUENCES  RELATED  TO DROPPING OUT OF
SCHOOL. SUCH PUBLIC AWARENESS AND EDUCATION CAMPAIGN SHALL  BE  DIRECTED
AT  MINORS  WHOSE  ATTENDANCE  AT SCHOOL IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO SECTION
THIRTY-TWO HUNDRED FIVE OF THIS PART AND AT THEIR PARENTS  OR  GUARDIANS
AND  SHALL UTILIZE A VARIETY OF MEDIA SUCH AS, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, TELE-
VISION, BILLBOARDS, RADIO, AND INTERNET.
  2. THE DEPARTMENT IS HEREBY DIRECTED TO CREATE AN INCENTIVE PROGRAM TO
IMPROVE STUDENT  ATTENDANCE  REQUIRED  PURSUANT  TO  SECTION  THIRTY-TWO
HUNDRED FIVE OF THIS PART. INCENTIVES SHALL BE DEVELOPED WITH THE ADVICE
AND CONSENT OF THE BOARD OF REGENTS AS TO AN APPROPRIATE BUT MOTIVATION-
AL  INCENTIVE THAT WILL APPEAL TO STUDENTS IN ALL PARTS OF THE STATE AND
IN ALL INCOME BRACKETS. THE DEPARTMENT IS ENCOURAGED TO  DEVELOP  INCEN-
TIVES DIRECTED AT STUDENTS SPECIFICALLY SO AS TO MOTIVATE EXCITEMENT AND
ENTHUSIASM FOR ATTENDANCE. SUCH AN INCENTIVE PROGRAM AND/OR AWARDS SHALL
BE  BASED ON A DISTRICT'S OVERALL ATTENDANCE OR MOST IMPROVED ATTENDANCE

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD05296-01-1

S. 1570                             2

AS A PERCENTAGE OF THE STUDENT BODY FROM THE PREVIOUS  YEAR.  INCENTIVES
MAY BE AWARDED TO MORE THAN ONE SCHOOL DISTRICT IN EACH SCHOOL YEAR.
  3.  THE  DEPARTMENT  IS  DIRECTED  TO MAKE A GOOD FAITH EFFORT TO SEEK
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND/OR PRIVATE RESOURCES TO  SUPPLEMENT  APPROPRIATED
FUNDS  TO  DEVELOP THE PROGRAMS CREATED PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISIONS ONE AND
TWO OF THIS SECTION.
  S 3. This act shall take effect immediately.

co-Sponsors

2011-S1570A (ACTIVE) - Details

Current Committee:: Senate Education
Law Section:: Education Law
Laws Affected:: Add §3205-a, Ed L
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:: 2009-2010: S4372
2013-2014: S1574

2011-S1570A (ACTIVE) - Summary

Enacts the "Place a Child in Every School Seat Act" for the purposes of awareness of and incentives to improve school attendance and retention.

2011-S1570A (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                BILL NUMBER:S1570A

TITLE OF BILL:
An act
to amend the education law, in relation to enacting the "Place a
Child in Every School Seat Act of 2012"

PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
To establish a public awareness and
education campaign on the importance of earning a high school degree,
and create an incentive program to improve school attendance by
offering awards based on best overall attendance and/or most improved
attendance, under the direction of the Education Department with the
advice and consent of the Board of Regents.

SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Adds a new section 3205-a to the
education law to provide for a public awareness and education
campaign on the importance of earning a high school degree, and to
create an incentive program to improve school attendance statewide.

JUSTIFICATION:
Studies have demonstrated a clear link between
absenteeism in school and juvenile delinquency. According to the
National Conference of State Legislatures, one study of high school
dropouts showed that 80 percent had been chronically absent from

school in the previous school year. There are widespread public
benefits to improving school attendance, including reduced crime,
higher earning potential by high school graduates, and greater civic
engagement. Several states have adopted innovative programs to
improve school attendance, including pizza parties, ice cream
socials, and even financial rewards. New York should not "bribe" its
students to attend school, but we should provide additional
motivation in an appropriate manner.

This bill directs the State Education Department to establish a public
awareness and education campaign on the importance of earning a high
school degree, and to create an incentive program to improve school
attendance by offering awards based on best overall attendance and/or
most improved attendance. The nature of these incentives would be
decided by the Department with the advice and consent of the Board of
Regents and should appeal to school children in all parts of the
state and in all income brackets.

PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
A.291/S.4372 of 2009/2010
01/10/11 Referred to Education
01/04/12 Referred to Education

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None.

EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately.

2011-S1570A (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

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

                                 1570--A

                       2011-2012 Regular Sessions

                            I N  S E N A T E

                            January 10, 2011
                               ___________

Introduced by Sens. OPPENHEIMER, PARKER -- read twice and ordered print-
  ed,  and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Education --
  recommitted to the Committee on Education in  accordance  with  Senate
  Rule  6,  sec.  8  --  committee  discharged,  bill  amended,  ordered
  reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee

AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to enacting the "Place  a
  Child in Every School Seat Act of 2012"

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

  Section 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as  the  "place  a
child in every school seat act of 2012".
  S  2.  The  education law is amended by adding a new section 3205-a to
read as follows:
  S 3205-A. "PLACE A CHILD IN EVERY SCHOOL SEAT  ACT  OF  2012";  PUBLIC
AWARENESS OF PUBLIC SCHOOL ATTENDANCE; INCENTIVES TO IMPROVE ATTENDANCE.
1. THE DEPARTMENT IS HEREBY DIRECTED TO ESTABLISH A PUBLIC AWARENESS AND
EDUCATION CAMPAIGN THAT INCLUDES, BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO, EMPHASIZING THE
BENEFITS  OF  ATTENDING  SCHOOL AND EARNING, AT A MINIMUM, A HIGH SCHOOL
DIPLOMA, AND THE POTENTIAL  CONSEQUENCES  RELATED  TO  DROPPING  OUT  OF
SCHOOL.  SUCH  PUBLIC AWARENESS AND EDUCATION CAMPAIGN SHALL BE DIRECTED
AT MINORS WHOSE ATTENDANCE AT SCHOOL IS  REQUIRED  PURSUANT  TO  SECTION
THIRTY-TWO  HUNDRED  FIVE OF THIS PART AND AT THEIR PARENTS OR GUARDIANS
AND SHALL UTILIZE A VARIETY OF MEDIA SUCH AS, BUT NOT LIMITED TO,  TELE-
VISION, BILLBOARDS, RADIO, AND INTERNET.
  2. THE DEPARTMENT IS HEREBY DIRECTED TO CREATE AN INCENTIVE PROGRAM TO
IMPROVE  STUDENT  ATTENDANCE  REQUIRED  PURSUANT  TO  SECTION THIRTY-TWO
HUNDRED FIVE OF THIS PART. INCENTIVES SHALL BE DEVELOPED WITH THE ADVICE
AND CONSENT OF THE BOARD OF REGENTS AS TO AN APPROPRIATE BUT MOTIVATION-
AL INCENTIVE THAT WILL APPEAL TO STUDENTS IN ALL PARTS OF THE STATE  AND
IN  ALL  INCOME BRACKETS. THE DEPARTMENT IS ENCOURAGED TO DEVELOP INCEN-
TIVES DIRECTED AT STUDENTS SPECIFICALLY SO AS TO MOTIVATE EXCITEMENT AND

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD05296-02-2

S. 1570--A                          2

ENTHUSIASM FOR ATTENDANCE. SUCH AN INCENTIVE PROGRAM AND/OR AWARDS SHALL
BE BASED ON A DISTRICT'S OVERALL ATTENDANCE OR MOST IMPROVED  ATTENDANCE
AS  A  PERCENTAGE OF THE STUDENT BODY FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR. INCENTIVES
MAY BE AWARDED TO MORE THAN ONE SCHOOL DISTRICT IN EACH SCHOOL YEAR.
  3.  THE  DEPARTMENT  IS  DIRECTED  TO MAKE A GOOD FAITH EFFORT TO SEEK
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND/OR PRIVATE RESOURCES TO  SUPPLEMENT  APPROPRIATED
FUNDS  TO  DEVELOP THE PROGRAMS CREATED PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISIONS ONE AND
TWO OF THIS SECTION.
  S 3. This act shall take effect immediately.

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Senate Bill S1570A

Sponsored By

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Education Committee

Actions

Bill Amendments

co-Sponsors

2011-S1570 - Details

2011-S1570 - Summary

2011-S1570 - Sponsor Memo

2011-S1570 - Bill Text download pdf

co-Sponsors

2011-S1570A (ACTIVE) - Details

2011-S1570A (ACTIVE) - Summary

2011-S1570A (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2011-S1570A (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments

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Sponsored By

Suzi Oppenheimer

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Education Committee

Actions

Bill Amendments

co-Sponsors

Kevin S. Parker

2011-S1570 - Details

2011-S1570 - Summary

2011-S1570 - Sponsor Memo

2011-S1570 - Bill Text download pdf

co-Sponsors

Kevin S. Parker

2011-S1570A (ACTIVE) - Details

2011-S1570A (ACTIVE) - Summary

2011-S1570A (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2011-S1570A (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments