Senate Bill S708A

2015-2016 Legislative Session

Directs the commissioner of education to conduct an audit and report on statewide compliance with state instructional regulations for arts education

download bill text pdf

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

Please enter your contact information

First Name

Last Name

Email Address

A valid email address is required.

Home address is used to determine the senate district in which you reside. Your support or opposition to this bill is then shared immediately with the senator who represents you.

Optional services from the NY State Senate:

Create an account. An account allows you to officially support or oppose key legislation, sign petitions with a single click, and follow issues, committees, and bills that matter to you. When you create an account, you agree to this platform's terms of participation.

Include a custom message for your Senator? (Optional)

Enter a message to your senator. Many New Yorkers use this to share the reasoning behind their support or opposition to the bill. Others might share a personal anecdote about how the bill would affect them or people they care about.

Actions

View Actions

Date of Action	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Feb 29, 2016	print number 708a
Feb 29, 2016	amend and recommit to education
Jan 06, 2016	referred to education
Jan 07, 2015	referred to education

Bill Amendments

Original

A (Active)

co-Sponsors

2015-S708 - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A2897
Current Committee:: Senate Education
Law Section:: Education Law
Laws Affected:: Add §817, amd §305, Ed L
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:: 2009-2010: S5878, A8938
2011-2012: S3802, A5551
2013-2014: S1029, A5835
2017-2018: S3087
2019-2020: S179
2021-2022: S1354
2023-2024: S260
2025-2026: S1072

2015-S708 - Summary

Directs the state education commissioner to conduct an audit and report on statewide compliance with state instructional regulations for arts education and to establish a remediation process for schools found to be out of compliance.

2015-S708 - Sponsor Memo

                                 BILL NUMBER:  S708

 TITLE OF BILL :  An act to amend the education law, in relation to
directing the commissioner of education to conduct an audit and report
on statewide compliance with state instructional regulations for arts
education and to establish a remediation process for schools found to
be out of compliance

 PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF THE BILL :

Directs the commissioner of education to conduct an audit and report
on statewide compliance with state instructional regulations for arts
education.

 SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS :

The commissioner of the State Education Department is required to
conduct a statewide audit of compliance for arts instruction.

 JUSTIFICATION :

According to Part 100 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of
Education, students are to receive instruction designed to facilitate
the attainment of the state elementary learning standards in the arts,
including dance, music, theater and visual arts. The instructional
requirements track to the percentage of weekly school time allocated

to the arts at the elementary level, units of study at the
intermediate and commencement levels, and availability of three or
five-unit sequences in the arts at the commencement level.
Furthermore, it is recommended that instruction be provided by a
licensed arts teacher.

As there is no comprehensive accounting of arts instruction provided
by the state's public schools, it is not clear if schools and
districts are in compliance with the state regulations. In New York
City, where reporting on arts education offerings began after the
2006-2007 school year, data provided by the New York City Department
of Education for the 2007-2008 school year revealed that only 8% of
elementary schools were in a position to provide the minimum that is
required by the State of New York by offering all four art forms in
each grade. Additionally, less than half of New York City middle
schools are ensuring that all students are completing the state
requirements. This bill is an important step towards ensuring that the
arts are a significant part of our youth's learning experience.

 LEGISLATIVE HISTORY :

2013-2014: S.1029A-Referred to Education
2011-2012: S.3802- Referred to Education
2009-2010: S.5878- Referred to Rules

 FISCAL IMPLICATIONS :

To be determined.

 EFFECTIVE DATE :
This act shall take effect immediately.

2015-S708 - Bill Text download pdf

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

                                   708

                       2015-2016 Regular Sessions

                            I N  S E N A T E

                               (PREFILED)

                             January 7, 2015
                               ___________

Introduced  by Sens. SERRANO, ADDABBO, KRUEGER, PARKER, STAVISKY -- read
  twice and ordered printed, and when printed to  be  committed  to  the
  Committee on Education

AN  ACT to amend the education law, in relation to directing the commis-
  sioner of education to  conduct  an  audit  and  report  on  statewide
  compliance with state instructional regulations for arts education and
  to  establish  a  remediation  process  for schools found to be out of
  compliance

  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 817 to
read as follows:
  S  817.  STATEWIDE  AUDIT  OF  COMPLIANCE.   THE COMMISSIONER SHALL BE
AUTHORIZED AND REQUIRED TO CONDUCT A STATEWIDE AUDIT OF COMPLIANCE  WITH
STATE EDUCATION REGULATIONS FOR ARTS INSTRUCTION. THE BOARD OF EDUCATION
OR  TRUSTEES  OF  ALL SCHOOL DISTRICTS SHALL COMPLY WITH REQUESTS BY THE
DEPARTMENT FOR SUCH INFORMATION DEEMED RELEVANT BY THE DEPARTMENT.  SUCH
ASSESSMENT  SHALL  BE  CONDUCTED AND REPORTED TO THE LEGISLATURE AND THE
PUBLIC BY JUNE, TWO THOUSAND SIXTEEN FOR THE TWO  THOUSAND  FIFTEEN--TWO
THOUSAND SIXTEEN SCHOOL YEAR AND EVERY FIVE YEARS THEREAFTER.
  S  2.  Section  305  of  the  education law is amended by adding a new
subdivision 53 to read as follows:
  53. HE OR SHE SHALL REQUIRE THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OR TRUSTEES OF EACH
SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT IS  FOUND  TO  BE  OUT  OF  COMPLIANCE  WITH  STATE
INSTRUCTIONAL  REGULATIONS  FOR  ARTS  EDUCATION TO DEVELOP A CORRECTIVE
ACTION PLAN THAT DESCRIBES    STEPS  TO  ENSURE  COMPLIANCE  WITH  STATE
REQUIREMENTS  WITH A TIMETABLE FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF STEPS WITHIN TWELVE
MONTHS OF THE AUDIT. THE COMMISSIONER SHALL BE REQUIRED  TO  REVIEW  AND
APPROVE ALL ACTION PLANS AND FACILITATE THEIR IMPLEMENTATION AND MAKE AN
ANNUAL  REPORT  TO  THE  LEGISLATURE AND THE PUBLIC ON PROGRESS AT THOSE
SCHOOLS.
  S 3. This act shall take effect immediately.

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD04272-01-5

co-Sponsors

2015-S708A (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A2897
Current Committee:: Senate Education
Law Section:: Education Law
Laws Affected:: Add §817, amd §305, Ed L
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:: 2009-2010: S5878, A8938
2011-2012: S3802, A5551
2013-2014: S1029, A5835
2017-2018: S3087
2019-2020: S179
2021-2022: S1354
2023-2024: S260
2025-2026: S1072

2015-S708A (ACTIVE) - Summary

2015-S708A (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                 BILL NUMBER:  S708A

 TITLE OF BILL :

An act to amend the education law, in relation to directing the
commissioner of education to conduct an audit and report on statewide
compliance with state instructional regulations for arts education and
to establish a remediation process for schools found to be out of
compliance

 PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF THE BILL :

Directs the commissioner of education to conduct an audit and report
on statewide compliance with state instructional regulations for arts
education.

 SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS :

The commissioner of the State Education Department is required to
conduct a statewide audit of compliance for arts instruction.

 JUSTIFICATION :

According to Part 100 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of
Education, students are to receive instruction designed to facilitate
the attainment of the state elementary learning standards in the arts,

including dance, music, theater and visual arts. The instructional
requirements track to the percentage of weekly school time allocated
to the arts at the elementary level, units of study at the
intermediate and commencement levels, and availability of three or
five-unit sequences in the arts at the commencement level.
Furthermore, it is recommended that instruction be provided by a
licensed arts teacher.

As there is no comprehensive accounting of arts instruction provided
by the state's public schools, it is not clear if schools and
districts are in compliance with the state regulations. In New York
City, where reporting on arts education offerings began after the
2006-2007 school year, data provided by the New York City Department
of Education for the 2007-2008 school year revealed that only 8% of
elementary schools were in a position to provide the minimum that is
required by the State of New York by offering all four art forms in
each grade. Additionally, less than half of New York City middle
schools are ensuring that all students are completing the state
requirements. This bill is an important step towards ensuring that the
arts are a significant part of our youth's learning experience.

 LEGISLATIVE HISTORY :

2013-2014: S.1029A - Referred to Education
2011-2012: S.3802 - Referred to Education
2009-2010: S.5878 - Referred to Rules

 FISCAL IMPLICATIONS :

To be determined.

 EFFECTIVE DATE :
This act shall take effect immediately.

2015-S708A (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

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

                                 708--A

                       2015-2016 Regular Sessions

                            I N  S E N A T E

                               (PREFILED)

                             January 7, 2015
                               ___________

Introduced  by Sens. SERRANO, ADDABBO, KRUEGER, PARKER, STAVISKY -- read
  twice and ordered printed, 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  commit-
  tee

AN  ACT to amend the education law, in relation to directing the commis-
  sioner of education to  conduct  an  audit  and  report  on  statewide
  compliance with state instructional regulations for arts education and
  to  establish  a  remediation  process  for schools found to be out of
  compliance

  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 817 to
read as follows:
  S  817.  STATEWIDE  AUDIT  OF  COMPLIANCE.   THE COMMISSIONER SHALL BE
AUTHORIZED AND REQUIRED TO CONDUCT A STATEWIDE AUDIT OF COMPLIANCE  WITH
STATE EDUCATION REGULATIONS FOR ARTS INSTRUCTION. THE BOARD OF EDUCATION
OR  TRUSTEES  OF  ALL SCHOOL DISTRICTS SHALL COMPLY WITH REQUESTS BY THE
DEPARTMENT FOR SUCH INFORMATION DEEMED RELEVANT BY THE DEPARTMENT.  SUCH
ASSESSMENT  SHALL  BE  CONDUCTED AND REPORTED TO THE LEGISLATURE AND THE
PUBLIC BY JUNE, TWO THOUSAND SEVENTEEN FOR THE TWO THOUSAND SIXTEEN--TWO
THOUSAND SEVENTEEN SCHOOL YEAR AND EVERY FIVE YEARS THEREAFTER.
  S 2. Section 305 of the education law  is  amended  by  adding  a  new
subdivision 55 to read as follows:
  55. HE OR SHE SHALL REQUIRE THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OR TRUSTEES OF EACH
SCHOOL  DISTRICT  THAT  IS  FOUND  TO  BE  OUT  OF COMPLIANCE WITH STATE
INSTRUCTIONAL REGULATIONS FOR ARTS EDUCATION  TO  DEVELOP  A  CORRECTIVE
ACTION  PLAN  THAT  DESCRIBES    STEPS  TO  ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH STATE
REQUIREMENTS WITH A TIMETABLE FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF STEPS WITHIN  TWELVE

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

                                                           LBD04272-02-6

S. 708--A                           2

MONTHS  OF  THE  AUDIT. THE COMMISSIONER SHALL BE REQUIRED TO REVIEW AND
APPROVE ALL ACTION PLANS AND FACILITATE THEIR IMPLEMENTATION AND MAKE AN
ANNUAL REPORT TO THE LEGISLATURE AND THE PUBLIC  ON  PROGRESS  AT  THOSE
SCHOOLS.
  S 3. This act shall take effect immediately.

Comments

Open Legislation is a forum for New York State legislation. All comments are subject to review and community moderation is encouraged.

Comments deemed off-topic, commercial, campaign-related, self-promotional; or that contain profanity, hate or toxic speech; or that link to sites outside of the nysenate.gov domain are not permitted, and will not be published. Attempts to intimidate and silence contributors or deliberately deceive the public, including excessive or extraneous posting/posts, or coordinated activity, are prohibited and may result in the temporary or permanent banning of the user. Comment moderation is generally performed Monday through Friday. By contributing or voting you agree to the Terms of Participation and verify you are over 13.

Create an account. An account allows you to sign petitions with a single click, officially support or oppose key legislation, and follow issues, committees, and bills that matter to you. When you create an account, you agree to this platform's terms of participation.

Find your Senator and share your views on important issues.

Do you support this bill?

Senate Bill S708A

Sponsored By

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Education Committee

Actions

Bill Amendments

co-Sponsors

2015-S708 - Details

2015-S708 - Summary

2015-S708 - Sponsor Memo

2015-S708 - Bill Text download pdf

co-Sponsors

2015-S708A (ACTIVE) - Details

2015-S708A (ACTIVE) - Summary

2015-S708A (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2015-S708A (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments

Do you support this bill?

Get Status Alerts for 2015-S708A

Senate Bill S708A

Share this bill

Sponsored By

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Education Committee

Actions

Bill Amendments

co-Sponsors

2015-S708 - Details

2015-S708 - Summary

2015-S708 - Sponsor Memo

2015-S708 - Bill Text download pdf

co-Sponsors

2015-S708A (ACTIVE) - Details

2015-S708A (ACTIVE) - Summary

2015-S708A (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2015-S708A (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments