S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
3846
2015-2016 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
January 27, 2015
___________
Introduced by M. of A. RA -- read once and referred to the Committee on
Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to directing the commis-
sioner of education to establish performance standards for school
districts for exemption from requirements mandated by the state
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 319 to
read as follows:
S 319. SCHOOL DISTRICT EXEMPTION FROM CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS; PERFORM-
ANCE STANDARDS. THE COMMISSIONER IS HEREBY AUTHORIZED AND DIRECTED TO
ESTABLISH A PROGRAM TO EXEMPT SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT MEET SPECIFIC
PERFORMANCE STANDARDS FROM CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS MANDATED BY THE STATE
AND IMPOSED ON SCHOOL DISTRICTS PURSUANT TO CHAPTER FIFTY-SEVEN OF THE
LAWS OF TWO THOUSAND ELEVEN. THE COMMISSIONER SHALL:
1. ESTABLISH WHAT CATEGORIES WITHIN THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM SHALL BE
USED FOR EVALUATING SCHOOL DISTRICT PERFORMANCE. SUCH CATEGORIES SHALL
INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO, TEST SCORES, STUDENT ATTENDANCE AND
GRADUATION RATES;
2. ESTABLISH STANDARDS, CRITERIA AND LEVELS OF PERFORMANCE AND
ACHIEVEMENT THAT A SCHOOL DISTRICT MUST MEET IN EACH SUCH CATEGORY IN
ORDER TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR EXEMPTION FROM SUCH REQUIREMENTS;
3. NOTIFY EACH SCHOOL DISTRICT OF THE CATEGORIES ESTABLISHED PURSUANT
TO SUBDIVISION ONE OF THIS SECTION AND THE STANDARDS, CRITERIA AND
LEVELS ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION TWO OF THIS SECTION. SUCH
NOTIFICATION SHALL BE MADE ANNUALLY AND IN A MANNER AND AT A TIME TO
ALLOW SCHOOL DISTRICTS SUFFICIENT TIME FOR REVIEW PRIOR TO THE COMMENCE-
MENT OF THE SCHOOL YEAR;
4. DETERMINE FROM WHICH REQUIREMENTS A SCHOOL DISTRICT MEETING SUCH
STANDARDS, CRITERIA AND LEVELS SHALL BE EXEMPT;
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04363-01-5
A. 3846 2
5. DETERMINE IF DIFFERENT SETS OF SUCH STANDARDS, CRITERIA AND LEVELS
SHOULD BE USED FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS DUE TO DIFFERENCES IN THE SIZE AND
DEMOGRAPHICS OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS ACROSS THE STATE;
6. ESTABLISH AN APPLICATION PROCEDURE WHEREBY A SCHOOL DISTRICT MAY
DEMONSTRATE THAT IT HAS MET SUCH STANDARDS, CRITERIA AND LEVELS AND
APPLY FOR EXEMPTION FROM SUCH REQUIREMENTS;
7. GRANT EXEMPTION FROM SUCH REQUIREMENTS TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS FOR
WHICH AN APPLICATION FOR EXEMPTION IS APPROVED;
8. DETERMINE THE LENGTH OF TIME THAT A SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT HAS BEEN
GRANTED AN EXEMPTION FROM SUCH REQUIREMENTS SHALL REMAIN EXEMPT; AND
9. PROMULGATE RULES AND REGULATIONS CONSISTENT WITH AND NECESSARY TO
IMPLEMENT THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION.
S 2. This act shall take effect immediately and shall apply to school
years beginning on or after July 1, 2016.