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

                                 7846--A

                       2013-2014 Regular Sessions

                          I N  A S S E M B L Y

                              June 6, 2013
                               ___________

Introduced  by  M.  of  A.  GABRYSZAK  --  read once and referred to the
  Committee on Education -- committee discharged, bill amended,  ordered
  reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee

AN  ACT  to  direct the commissioner of education to establish an online
  learning advisory committee to make recommendations on establishing  a
  statewide online and blended learning program

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

  Section 1. Legislative intent. The legislature recognizes  that  there
is  a  demonstrated  need to reevaluate the delivery of education in New
York state in light of educational advancements and  a  more  technolog-
ically  driven  economy. In light of academic discrepancies for those in
the most rural and underrepresented areas within the state  as  well  as
the  unstable economic times, we believe that there is a need to advance
emerging technologies and the potential for implementation of  a  state-
wide  online and blended learning program. This will provide an opportu-
nity to highlight the state's most successful  programs  and  make  them
universally  accessible. A statewide online and blended learning program
will not only have the potential to provide equal  educational  opportu-
nities  to  the most remote areas of the state, but help all students as
they transition into a competitive marketplace.
  S 2. The commissioner of education, in consultation with the New  York
state  broadband  program  office of the empire state development corpo-
ration, the New York state energy research and development authority and
the public service commission, shall establish an online learning  advi-
sory  committee which shall develop recommendations for establishment of
a statewide online and blended learning program. Such advisory committee
shall be composed of 12 members appointed by the commissioner of  educa-
tion.  Provided  that  of  such  12  members:    three  members shall be
appointed upon the recommendation of the governor, three  members  shall
be  appointed  upon the recommendation of the temporary president of the

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD10800-05-3
              

A. 7846--A                          2

senate, three members shall be appointed upon the recommendation of  the
speaker of the assembly, and the remaining members shall be appointed in
the sole discretion of the commissioner of education. The members of the
committee shall have demonstrated experience with or expertise in one of
the  following  areas: private or public online providers, accreditation
of programming,  boards  of  cooperative  educational  services,  school
administration, educational delivery in a rural setting, existing online
and  blended learning program development, institutions of higher educa-
tion, or as a teacher certified pursuant to article 61 of the  education
law.  The  recommendations  of the advisory committee shall include, but
not be limited to:
  (a) definitions of online and blended learning;
  (b) connecting modules throughout the  state  in  order  to  create  a
statewide  online and blended learning system including, but not limited
to, remote and rural school districts;
  (c) model school district policies, as well as model agreements to  be
used  by  school  districts  in  implementation of an online and blended
learning program including, but not limited to, agreements that  address
billing,  fees,  responsibilities  of online course providers and school
districts;
  (d) best practices from throughout the state that can be  modeled  and
replicated;
  (e)  implementation guidelines and policies for schools without online
and blended learning programs;
  (f) state and federal funding opportunities  for  online  and  blended
learning programs, as well as a review of state aid to online and blend-
ed learning programs;
  (g) regulatory review and development of new regulations pertaining to
online and blended learning programs;
  (h) content and course evaluation;
  (i)  identifiable  academic  programming suited for online and blended
learning that have been eliminated from course offerings within the past
five years including, but not  limited  to,  foreign  language  courses,
technology  classes,  art  and  music,  and  career  and  college  ready
programs;
  (j) partnerships with institutions of higher education  for  workforce
opportunities using online and blended learning;
  (k)  teaching  and  professional  development  requirements  including
recommendations regarding licensure, and compliance with  current  state
laws;
  (l)  technology  support,  including but not limited to, technological
delivery and broadband access to remote and underrepresented  geographic
areas;
  (m) quality assessment and licensing of online providers;
  (n) operational and administrative support guidelines;
  (o)  addressing  barriers  to the implementation of online and blended
learning programs; and
  (p) local school district flexibility  including  recommendations  for
compliance with seat-time and graduation requirements.
  S  3.  The  members of the advisory committee shall receive no compen-
sation for their services, but shall be allowed their actual and  neces-
sary  expenses  incurred  in the performance of their duties pursuant to
this act.
  S 4. The advisory committee shall convene on or before August 1,  2013
to  develop  its  recommendations.  On  or  before  January 1, 2014, the
committee shall submit a preliminary report of its  recommendations  for

A. 7846--A                          3

consideration  in  the  executive  budget for the 2014-2015 state fiscal
year, and, on or before October 1, 2014, shall submit a final report  of
its  recommendations  to  the  governor,  the temporary president of the
senate,  the  speaker  of the assembly and the chairs of the legislative
commission on the development of rural resources.
  S 5. This act shall take effect immediately.