S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
4550
2015-2016 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
February 3, 2015
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Introduced by M. of A. CLARK -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to establishing a parent
awareness week in all school districts
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Legislative intent. The legislature hereby finds and
declares that a child's education is a responsibility shared by the
school and family during the entire time the child spends in school; and
to support the goal of the schools to educate all students effectively,
the schools and parents must work as informed partners; and that
although parents are diverse in culture, language, and needs, they are
an integral component of a school's ability to provide for the educa-
tional success of their children; and that engaging parents is essential
to improve student achievement; and that schools should foster and
support active parental involvement and awareness.
S 2. The education law is amended by adding a new article 100 to read
as follows:
ARTICLE 100
PARENT AWARENESS WEEK
SECTION 4950. PARENT AWARENESS WEEK; ESTABLISHED.
4951. UNIFORM PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT PROGRAM.
S 4950. PARENT AWARENESS WEEK; ESTABLISHED. 1. DURING THE FIRST FIVE
DAYS OF EACH SCHOOL YEAR, EACH SCHOOL DISTRICT AND EACH SCHOOL WITHIN
ITS BOUNDARIES, IN COLLABORATION WITH PARENTS, SHALL ESTABLISH A PARENT
AWARENESS WEEK INCLUDING PROGRAMS AND PRACTICES THAT ENHANCE PARENTAL
INVOLVEMENT AND REFLECT THE SPECIFIC NEEDS OF STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMI-
LIES. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT A UNIFORM PARENTAL
INVOLVEMENT PROGRAM FOR ALL PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN THE STATE WHICH WILL
PROVIDE THE MINIMUM STANDARDS THAT EACH SCHOOL MUST MEET.
2. THE PARENT AWARENESS WEEK IN EACH SCHOOL SHALL:
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD08576-01-5
A. 4550 2
A. INVOLVE PARENTS OF STUDENTS AT ALL GRADE LEVELS IN A VARIETY OF
ROLES;
B. BE COMPREHENSIVE AND COORDINATED IN NATURE;
C. (1) RECOGNIZE THAT COMMUNICATION BETWEEN HOME AND SCHOOL SHOULD BE
REGULAR, TWO-WAY, AND MEANINGFUL.
(2) TO ENCOURAGE COMMUNICATION WITH PARENTS THE SCHOOL SHALL PREPARE
AN INFORMATIONAL PACKET TO BE DISTRIBUTED ANNUALLY TO THE PARENT, APPRO-
PRIATE FOR THE AGE AND GRADE OF THE CHILD DESCRIBING:
(I) THE SCHOOL'S PARENT AWARENESS WEEK;
(II) THE RECOMMENDED ROLE OF THE PARENT, STUDENT, TEACHER, AND SCHOOL;
(III) WAYS FOR THE PARENTS TO BECOME INVOLVED IN THE SCHOOL AND HIS OR
HER CHILD'S EDUCATION INCLUDING HOW AND WHERE THE PARENT COULD VOLUN-
TEER;
(IV) ACTIVITIES PLANNED THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR TO ENCOURAGE
PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT;
(V) A SYSTEM TO ALLOW THE PARENTS TO COMMUNICATE IN A REGULAR,
TWO-WAY, AND MEANINGFUL MANNER WITH THE CHILD'S TEACHER AND THE SCHOOL
PRINCIPAL.
(3) TO ENCOURAGE COMMUNICATION WITH PARENTS, THE SCHOOL SHALL SCHEDULE
NO LESS THAN TWO PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES PER SCHOOL YEAR.
(4) THE SCHOOL MAY PLAN AND ENGAGE IN OTHER ACTIVITIES DETERMINED BY
THE SCHOOL TO BE BENEFICIAL TO ENCOURAGE COMMUNICATION WITH PARENTS;
D. PROMOTE AND SUPPORT RESPONSIBLE PARENTING.
E. (1) ACKNOWLEDGE THAT PARENTS PLAY AN INTEGRAL ROLE IN ASSISTING
STUDENT LEARNING.
(2) TO HELP PARENTS IN ASSISTING STUDENTS, THE SCHOOL SHALL:
(I) SCHEDULE REGULAR "PARENTS MAKE THE DIFFERENCE" EVENINGS WHERE
PARENTS ARE GIVEN A REPORT ON THE STATE OF THE SCHOOL AND AN OVERVIEW
OF:
(A) WHAT STUDENTS WILL BE LEARNING;
(B) HOW STUDENTS WILL BE ASSESSED;
(C) WHAT PARENTS SHOULD EXPECT FOR THEIR CHILD'S EDUCATION; AND
(D) HOW PARENTS CAN ASSIST AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN HIS OR HER CHILD'S
EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT; AND
(II) ENGAGE IN OTHER ACTIVITIES DETERMINED BY THE SCHOOL TO HELP
PARENTS ASSIST IN HIS OR HER CHILD'S LEARNING;
F. WELCOME PARENTS IN THE SCHOOL AND SEEK PARENTAL SUPPORT AND ASSIST-
ANCE.
G. (1) RECOGNIZE THAT A PARENT IS A FULL PARTNER IN THE DECISIONS THAT
AFFECT HIS OR HER CHILD AND FAMILY.
(2) TO ENCOURAGE PARENTS TO PARTICIPATE AS FULL PARTNERS IN THE DECI-
SIONS THAT AFFECT HIS OR HER CHILD AND FAMILY, THE SCHOOL SHALL:
(I) INCLUDE IN THE SCHOOL'S POLICY HANDBOOK THE SCHOOL'S PROCESS FOR
RESOLVING PARENTAL CONCERNS, INCLUDING HOW TO DEFINE THE PROBLEM, WHOM
TO APPROACH FIRST, AND HOW TO DEVELOP SOLUTIONS;
(II) SPONSOR SEMINARS TO INFORM THE PARENTS OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
ABOUT HOW TO BE INVOLVED IN THE DECISIONS AFFECTING COURSE SELECTION,
CAREER PLANNING, AND PREPARATION FOR POST-SECONDARY OPPORTUNITIES; AND
(III) ENGAGE IN OTHER ACTIVITIES THAT THE SCHOOL DETERMINES WILL
ENCOURAGE PARENTS TO PARTICIPATE AS FULL PARTNERS IN THE DECISIONS THAT
AFFECT HIS OR HER CHILD AND FAMILY;
H. (1) RECOGNIZE THAT COMMUNITY RESOURCES STRENGTHEN SCHOOL PROGRAMS,
FAMILY PRACTICES, AND STUDENT LEARNING;
(2) TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF COMMUNITY RESOURCES THE SCHOOL SHALL:
A. 4550 3
(I) CONSIDER RECRUITING ALUMNI FROM THE SCHOOL TO CREATE AN ALUMNI
SUPPORT ORGANIZATION TO PROVIDE ADVICE AND GUIDANCE FOR SCHOOL IMPROVE-
MENT;
(II) ENGAGE IN OTHER ACTIVITIES THAT THE SCHOOL DETERMINES WILL USE
COMMUNITY RESOURCES TO STRENGTHEN SCHOOL PROGRAMS, FAMILY PRACTICES, AND
STUDENT LEARNING; AND
I. SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT, IMPLEMENTATION, AND REGULAR EVALUATION OF
THE PROGRAM TO INVOLVE PARENTS IN THE DECISIONS AND PRACTICES OF THE
SCHOOL DISTRICT, USING TO THE DEGREE POSSIBLE, THE COMPONENTS LISTED IN
THIS SECTION.
J. (1) THE SUPERVISING PRINCIPAL OF EACH SCHOOL IN A DISTRICT SHALL
DESIGNATE ONE QUALIFIED STAFF MEMBER THAT IS WILLING TO SERVE AS A
PARENT FACILITATOR TO ORGANIZE MEANINGFUL TRAINING FOR STAFF AND PARENTS
PROMOTING AND ENCOURAGING A WELCOMING ATMOSPHERE TO PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT
IN THE SCHOOL AND TO UNDERTAKE EFFORTS TO ENSURE THAT PARENTAL PARTIC-
IPATION IS RECOGNIZED AS AN ASSET TO THE SCHOOL.
(2) THE QUALIFIED STAFF SERVING AS A PARENTAL FACILITATOR SHALL
RECEIVE SUPPLEMENTAL PAY FOR THE ASSIGNED DUTIES AS REQUIRED BY LAW.
S 4951. UNIFORM PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT PROGRAM. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL
DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT A UNIFORM PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT PROGRAM THAT WILL
SET THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS THAT EACH SCHOOL IN THE STATE MUST ADHERE
TO WITH REGARD TO THE PROCESSES FOR HOW SCHOOLS REPORT AND NOTIFY
PARENTS OF STUDENTS' EDUCATIONAL PROGRESS, UNEXCUSED ABSENCES AND STAND-
ARDIZED TEST RESULTS.
S 3. This act shall take effect immediately.