S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
2249
2015-2016 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
January 15, 2015
___________
Introduced by M. of A. BRONSON -- read once and referred to the Commit-
tee on Education
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
senate, three members shall be appointed upon the recommendation of the
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05995-01-5
A. 2249 2
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, 2015
to develop its recommendations. On or before January 1, 2016, the
committee shall submit a preliminary report of its recommendations for
consideration in the executive budget for the 2016-17 state fiscal year,
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and, on or before October 1, 2016, 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.