S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
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                                  8180--A
 
                        2017-2018 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                               June 1, 2017
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  M. of A. NOLAN, LUPARDO -- 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 amend the education law, in relation to continuing the early
   college high school program  and  the  pathways  in  technology  early
   college high school program in this state
 
   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  it necessary to preserve and continue the New York state early
 college high school program, the New York state pathways  in  technology
 early  college high school program (P-TECH program) and career and tech-
 nical high schools in this state which provide various students, includ-
 ing those traditionally underrepresented  in  post-secondary  education,
 with  the opportunity to access college-level courses and college degree
 credits at the high school level  with  the  combined  support  of  high
 school  and  college  staff  and  resources, and for P-TECH programs and
 career and technical high schools, career training and employment  in  a
 highly skilled job upon completion of the program.
   The  early  college  high  school program not only increases students'
 access to  higher  education,  but  also  reduces  potential  costs  for
 students  in  completing  college  degrees  by  allowing  them to either
 complete a degree upon graduation from high school  or  to  apply  their
 earned college credits towards an associate's or baccalaureate's degree.
 This  innovative  program provides incentives to high school students to
 proceed to college and to earn a college degree  by  accelerating  their
 overall  completion  of  a  degree.  It  also  better  prepares them for
 college-level coursework, which, will in turn, increase  their  academic
 performance. Ultimately, this program increases graduation rates both at
 the  high school and college levels, especially for academically at-risk
 students.
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                            LBD11589-02-7

 A. 8180--A                          2
 
   The P-TECH program, through a public-private partnership,  and  career
 and  technical  high schools, prepare thousands of New York students for
 high-skill jobs of the future in technology,  manufacturing,  healthcare
 and  finance.  The  P-TECH program and career and technical high schools
 provide students with a rigorous, relevant and cost-free high school and
 college  education  and  a  workplace  learning environment with ongoing
 mentoring by professionals in the chosen career sector to better prepare
 these students for successful careers. Students also receive  a  commit-
 ment  from  the participating employer to be first in line for consider-
 ation for a job following completion of the  program.  Ultimately,  this
 program  increases  graduation rates both at the high school and college
 levels and provides essential career training for academically  at-risk,
 disadvantaged  students, which at the completion of the program improves
 students readiness for employment in a 21st century workplace.
   The legislature hereby finds and  declares  it  necessary  to  provide
 funding for these programs to ensure that they continue in operation and
 continue to provide students with these valuable services.
   The  legislature also finds and declares it necessary to provide addi-
 tional funding for the state  education  department  to  administer  and
 evaluate these critical programs. These funds will support program staff
 to  supplement  the  oversight already being provided to these programs,
 and ensure the timely and accurate analysis of data to  further  enhance
 and validate these programs.
   § 2. The education law is amended by adding a new section 6457 to read
 as follows:
   §  6457.  GRANT  AWARDS  FOR  NEW YORK STATE EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL
 PROGRAMS. 1. SUBJECT TO AN APPROPRIATION, THE COMMISSIONER  SHALL  ALLO-
 CATE  FUNDS  AVAILABLE  FOR  EARLY  COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAMS FOR THE
 PURPOSES OF INCREASING HIGH SCHOOL  GRADUATION  RATES  FOR  ACADEMICALLY
 AT-RISK, DISADVANTAGED AND/OR ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED STUDENTS AND TO
 INCREASE  THEIR  PARTICIPATION  IN  POST-SECONDARY  EDUCATION  THROUGH A
 NETWORK OF EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL PARTNERSHIPS IN THE STATE.
   2. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION:
   A. "APPROVED EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM" MEANS A  FORMAL  PART-
 NERSHIP BETWEEN A SCHOOL DISTRICT AND AT LEAST ONE INSTITUTION OF HIGHER
 EDUCATION,  APPROVED  BY  THE  COMMISSIONER IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE REGU-
 LATIONS OF THE COMMISSIONER AND THE REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS PROCESS, WHICH
 PROVIDES ELIGIBLE STUDENTS ENROLLED IN SUCH  PROGRAM  WITH  HIGH  SCHOOL
 COURSES  LEADING  TO  THE GRANTING OF A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA AND COLLEGE-
 LEVEL COURSES LEADING TO THE GRANTING OF AT  LEAST  TWENTY-FOUR  COLLEGE
 CREDITS  AND  UP  TO  A  POST-SECONDARY DEGREE OR DIPLOMA FROM A PARTNER
 INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION AT NO COST TO THE STUDENT  OR  STUDENT'S
 FAMILY;
   B.  "EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL" MEANS A PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL THAT OFFERS
 AN APPROVED EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM TO ITS STUDENTS;
   C. "ELIGIBLE APPLICANT" MEANS A NEW YORK STATE SCHOOL DISTRICT WITH AN
 APPROVED EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM WHICH PARTNERS  WITH  A  NOT-
 FOR-PROFIT  HIGHER  EDUCATION INSTITUTION TO OFFER COLLEGE-LEVEL COURSES
 LEADING TO THE GRANTING OF AT LEAST TWENTY-FOUR COLLEGE CREDITS  AND  UP
 TO A POST-SECONDARY DEGREE OR DIPLOMA, OR A NOT-FOR-PROFIT HIGHER EDUCA-
 TION  INSTITUTION  REGISTERED  WITH THE DEPARTMENT WHICH PARTNERS WITH A
 NEW YORK STATE SCHOOL DISTRICT TO OFFER AN APPROVED EARLY  COLLEGE  HIGH
 SCHOOL PROGRAM; AND
   D. "ELIGIBLE STUDENT" MEANS A STUDENT WHO:
   (I)  IS  A  RESIDENT OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IN WHICH THE EARLY COLLEGE
 HIGH SCHOOL IS LOCATED AND IS ENROLLED IN SUCH SCHOOL DISTRICT; AND

 A. 8180--A                          3
 
   (II) IS REGISTERED TO ATTEND SUCH HIGH SCHOOL FOR THE  ACADEMIC  YEARS
 FOR WHICH THE GRANT AWARD IS BEING SOUGHT.
   3.  MONIES  MADE  AVAILABLE  UNDER THIS SECTION SHALL BE SPENT FOR THE
 FOLLOWING PURPOSES AS FURTHER PRESCRIBED  BY  THE  COMMISSIONER  IN  THE
 REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS PROCESS:
   A.  TO  PROVIDE  ADDITIONAL STAFFING FOR THE EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL
 PROGRAM, INCLUDING A PROGRAM DIRECTOR AND COLLEGE LIAISON;
   B. STUDENT RECRUITMENT ACTIVITIES;
   C. TO PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TO PROMOTE  THE  EARLY  COLLEGE
 HIGH  SCHOOL  PROGRAM,  INCLUDING  CROSS-CURRICULUM  DEVELOPMENT BETWEEN
 SECONDARY AND POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION  PARTNERS  TO  ENSURE  CURRICULUM
 ALIGNMENT  THAT  PREPARES  STUDENTS  TO SUCCEED IN COLLEGE LEVEL COURSES
 WHILE IN HIGH SCHOOL;
   D. ACADEMIC AND SOCIAL SUPPORT SERVICES TO PROMOTE  COLLEGE  READINESS
 AND A COLLEGE-GOING CULTURE;
   E.  TRANSPORTATION  FOR  STUDENTS  TO  TAKE COURSES AND PARTICIPATE IN
 ACTIVITIES AT THE PARTNER CAMPUS OF THE HIGHER EDUCATION PARTNER; AND
   F. TUITION, BOOKS AND FEES; PROVIDED HOWEVER THAT  TUITION  REIMBURSE-
 MENT  SHALL  ONLY  BE ALLOWABLE FOR NON-REMEDIAL, CREDIT-BEARING COLLEGE
 COURSES.
   4. THE COMMISSIONER SHALL MAKE AWARDS TO ELIGIBLE  APPLICANTS  FOR  AN
 APPROVED EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM THROUGH A COMPETITIVE REQUEST
 FOR  PROPOSALS  PROCESS. THE FUNDING CYCLE FOR THIS PROGRAM SHALL BE FOR
 FIVE YEARS COMMENCING WITH THE TWO THOUSAND EIGHTEEN--TWO THOUSAND NINE-
 TEEN ACADEMIC YEAR, WITH A NEW GRANT CYCLE COMMENCING EVERY FIVE  YEARS.
 THE  PROGRAM CYCLE SHALL BE SEPTEMBER FIRST TO AUGUST THIRTY-FIRST ANNU-
 ALLY.
   A. THE COMMISSIONER SHALL PRIORITIZE PARTNERSHIPS THAT DEMONSTRATE THE
 WILLINGNESS AND CAPACITY TO SERVE STUDENTS WHO HAVE BEEN  IDENTIFIED  AS
 ECONOMICALLY  DISADVANTAGED AND/OR ACADEMICALLY AT-RISK FOR NOT SUCCESS-
 FULLY COMPLETING HIGH SCHOOL  OR  NOT  ENROLLING  IN  OR  SUCCEEDING  IN
 COLLEGE.
   B.  PRIORITY SHALL ALSO BE GIVEN TO EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAMS
 THAT WERE FUNDED BY THE DEPARTMENT UNDER A PRIOR REQUEST  FOR  PROPOSALS
 PROCESS,  BASED  UPON  DEMONSTRATION  OF  SUCCESSFUL STUDENT OUTCOMES AS
 DETERMINED BY THE COMMISSIONER IN REGULATIONS.
   5. ELIGIBLE INSTITUTIONS SHALL FILE AN APPLICATION FOR APPROVAL BY THE
 COMMISSIONER IN A TIMEFRAME AND MANNER PRESCRIBED BY  THE  COMMISSIONER,
 DEMONSTRATING  A  NEED FOR SUCH FUNDING, INCLUDING HOW THE FUNDING WOULD
 BE USED AND HOW MANY STUDENTS  WOULD  BE  ASSISTED  WITH  SUCH  FUNDING.
 SUCCESSFUL  APPLICANTS WILL BE FUNDED AS PROVIDED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE
 REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS PROCESS.
   6. NO FUNDS PURSUANT TO  THIS  SECTION  SHALL  BE  MADE  AVAILABLE  TO
 SUPPORT  THE  REGULAR ACADEMIC PROGRAMS OF ANY INSTITUTION PARTICIPATING
 IN THIS PROGRAM, NOR SHALL FUNDS BE  PROVIDED  FOR  PROGRAMS  WHICH  ARE
 INCOMPATIBLE  WITH THE REGENTS PLAN FOR THE EXPANSION AND DEVELOPMENT OF
 HIGHER EDUCATION IN THIS STATE.
   § 3. The education law is amended by adding a new section 6458 to read
 as follows:
   § 6458. GRANT AWARDS FOR PATHWAYS IN  TECHNOLOGY  EARLY  COLLEGE  HIGH
 SCHOOL  (P-TECH)  PROGRAMS.  1. SUBJECT TO AN APPROPRIATION, THE COMMIS-
 SIONER SHALL ALLOCATE THE FUNDS AVAILABLE FOR P-TECH  PROGRAMS  FOR  THE
 PURPOSES  OF PREPARING ELIGIBLE ACADEMICALLY AT-RISK AND/OR ECONOMICALLY
 DISADVANTAGED STUDENTS FOR HIGH-SKILL JOBS INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO
 THOSE IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, MANUFACTURING, HEALTHCARE AND

 A. 8180--A                          4
 
 FINANCE THROUGH A FIVE OR SIX-YEAR ACADEMIC PROGRAM THAT  COMBINES  HIGH
 SCHOOL, COLLEGE AND CAREER TRAINING.
   2. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION:
   A. "APPROVED PATHWAYS IN TECHNOLOGY EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL (P-TECH)
 PROGRAM"  MEANS A NEW YORK STATE P-TECH PROGRAM, APPROVED BY THE COMMIS-
 SIONER IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE REGULATIONS OF THE  COMMISSIONER  AND  THE
 REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS PROCESS, WHICH PROVIDES ELIGIBLE STUDENTS ENROLLED
 IN  SUCH  PROGRAM  WITH HIGH SCHOOL COURSES LEADING TO THE GRANTING OF A
 HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA AND COLLEGE-LEVEL COURSES LEADING TO THE GRANTING OF
 A POST-SECONDARY DEGREE OR DIPLOMA AT A PARTNERING COLLEGE  APPROVED  BY
 THE DEPARTMENT AND CAREER TRAINING WITH AN ELIGIBLE PARTNERING EMPLOYER;
   B.  "ELIGIBLE  APPLICANT"  MEANS  A  NEW  YORK  STATE SCHOOL DISTRICT,
 INCLUDING THOSE DISTRICTS WITH CAREER AND TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOLS,  WHICH
 MUST SERVE AS THE FISCAL AGENT. THE ELIGIBLE APPLICANT MAY WORK IN COOP-
 ERATION  WITH OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS, A BOARD OF COOPERATIVE EDUCATIONAL
 SERVICES, OR ANY COMBINATION OF THESE ENTITIES WITH A  PARTNERSHIP  THAT
 INCLUDES:
   (I)  ONE OR MORE NEW YORK STATE NOT-FOR-PROFIT HIGHER EDUCATION INSTI-
 TUTIONS PROVIDED THAT AT LEAST ONE  INSTITUTION  OFFERS  AN  ASSOCIATE'S
 DEGREE  (OR  OTHER TWO-YEAR DEGREE THAT IS THE INDUSTRY STANDARD FOR THE
 TARGETED JOBS) LINKED TO THE GOALS OF THE APPROVED P-TECH  PROGRAM,  AND
 WHICH AWARDS THE DEGREE AT NO COST TO THE STUDENT/FAMILY; AND
   (II)  A  REGIONAL  NEW YORK STATE EMPLOYER (OR CONSORTIUM OF EMPLOYERS
 FROM RELATED SECTORS) AND/OR INDUSTRY/ENTITY/ASSOCIATION  THAT  REQUIRES
 HIGHLY  SKILLED  EMPLOYEES  WHICH  WILL UTILIZE THE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS
 OBTAINED FROM THE SECONDARY AND POST-SECONDARY PROGRAMS  PROPOSED  UNDER
 THE  APPLICATION  AND AGREES TO PLACE STUDENTS WHO SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE
 THE PROGRAM FIRST IN LINE FOR A JOB; AND
   C. "ELIGIBLE STUDENT" MEANS A STUDENT WHO:
   (I) IS A RESIDENT OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, OR A RESIDENT OF A COMPONENT
 DISTRICT OF A CONSORTIUM APPLICANT,  IN  WHICH  THE  P-TECH  PROGRAM  IS
 LOCATED AND IS ENROLLED IN SUCH SCHOOL DISTRICT; AND
   (II)  IS  REGISTERED  TO  ATTEND SUCH HIGH SCHOOL INCLUDING CAREER AND
 TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOLS, FOR THE ACADEMIC YEARS FOR WHICH THE GRANT AWARD
 IS BEING SOUGHT.
   3. MONIES MADE AVAILABLE UNDER THIS SECTION SHALL  BE  SPENT  FOR  THE
 FOLLOWING  PURPOSES,  AS  FURTHER  PRESCRIBED BY THE COMMISSIONER IN THE
 REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS PROCESS:
   A. EXISTING EVIDENCE-BASED  AND/OR  STANDARDS  BASED  CURRICULUM  THAT
 FOCUSES  ON A CAREER IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING OR MATH-RELATED
 CAREER AREA WITHIN A P-TECH PROGRAM;
   B. RECRUITMENT ACTIVITIES FOR ELIGIBLE STUDENTS;
   C. TO PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TO PROMOTE THE P-TECH  PROGRAM,
 INCLUDING  CROSS-CURRICULUM  DEVELOPMENT  BETWEEN PARTNERS AND TO ENSURE
 CURRICULUM ALIGNMENT THAT PREPARES STUDENTS TO SUCCEED IN COLLEGE  LEVEL
 COURSES WHILE IN HIGH SCHOOL AND DURING CAREER TRAINING;
   D.  UP  TO TEN PERCENT OF FUNDS AWARDED UNDER THIS SECTION MAY BE USED
 FOR ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS TO PURCHASE EQUIPMENT NEEDED TO UPGRADE EXISTING
 PROGRAMS OR NEW EQUIPMENT TO START A PROGRAM;
   E. WORKSHOPS AND PLANNING MEETINGS BETWEEN PARTNERS, INCLUDING COUNSE-
 LORS, PARENTS, AND COLLEGE FACULTY,  AND  BUSINESS  LEADERS  TO  SUPPORT
 PROGRAM  SUSTAINABILITY  AND BUILD AWARENESS IN THE REGIONS ON THE BENE-
 FITS OF HAVING SUCH PROGRAMS;
   F. POST-SECONDARY CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT  THAT  FACILITATES  ALIGNMENT
 AND  ARTICULATION  WITH  SECONDARY  PROGRAMS  LEADING TO COLLEGE DEGREES

 A. 8180--A                          5
 
 AND/OR OTHER INDUSTRY RECOGNIZED CREDENTIALS  THAT  MEET  THE  NEEDS  OF
 EMPLOYERS;
   G. SERVICE CONTRACTS BETWEEN MEMBERS OF THE PARTNERSHIP;
   H.  TRANSPORTATION  FOR  ELIGIBLE STUDENTS TO TAKE COURSES AND PARTIC-
 IPATE IN ACTIVITIES AT THE PARTNER CAMPUS OF THE HIGHER EDUCATION  PART-
 NER; AND
   I.  TUITION, BOOKS AND FEES; PROVIDED THAT TUITION REIMBURSEMENT SHALL
 ONLY BE ALLOWABLE FOR NON-REMEDIAL, CREDIT-BEARING COLLEGE COURSES.
   4. THE COMMISSIONER SHALL MAKE GRANT AWARDS TO ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS FOR
 AN APPROVED P-TECH PROGRAM.
   A. FUNDS MUST FIRST BE SET ASIDE FOR THOSE  APPROVED  P-TECH  PROGRAMS
 THAT  WERE  FUNDED  UNDER THE PREVIOUS REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS PROCESS FOR
 ANY COHORT OF STUDENTS IN SUCH PROGRAM SO THEY CAN  OBTAIN  A  COST-FREE
 ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE.
   B. THE COMMISSIONER MAY ALSO MAKE AWARDS TO ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS FOR AN
 APPROVED  P-TECH  PROGRAM  THROUGH  A  COMPETITIVE REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
 PROCESS. THE FUNDING CYCLE FOR THIS PROGRAM SHALL  BE  FOR  SEVEN  YEARS
 COMMENCING  WITH  THE  TWO  THOUSAND TWENTY-ONE--TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-TWO
 ACADEMIC YEAR, SUBJECT TO AN  APPROPRIATION,  WITH  A  NEW  GRANT  CYCLE
 COMMENCING EVERY SEVEN YEARS.
   C. THE COMMISSIONER SHALL PRIORITIZE PARTNERSHIPS THAT DEMONSTRATE THE
 WILLINGNESS  AND  CAPACITY TO SERVE STUDENTS WHO HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AS
 ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED OR ACADEMICALLY DISADVANTAGED AND AT-RISK FOR
 NOT SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETING HIGH SCHOOL OR NOT ENROLLING IN OR  SUCCEED-
 ING IN COLLEGE.
   D. FOR AWARDS MADE UNDER A NEW REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS PROCESS, PRIORITY
 SHALL  ALSO  BE GIVEN TO P-TECH PROGRAMS THAT WERE FUNDED BY THE DEPART-
 MENT UNDER A PRIOR REQUEST FOR  PROPOSALS  PROCESS,  BASED  UPON  DEMON-
 STRATION OF SUCCESSFUL STUDENT OUTCOMES AS DETERMINED BY THE COMMISSION-
 ER IN REGULATIONS.
   5.  ELIGIBLE  APPLICANTS SHALL FILE AN APPLICATION FOR APPROVAL BY THE
 COMMISSIONER IN A TIMEFRAME AND MANNER PRESCRIBED BY  THE  COMMISSIONER,
 DEMONSTRATING  A  NEED FOR SUCH FUNDING, INCLUDING HOW THE FUNDING WOULD
 BE USED AND HOW MANY STUDENTS  WOULD  BE  ASSISTED  WITH  SUCH  FUNDING.
 SUCCESSFUL  APPLICANTS  WILL  BE  FUNDED  AS PROVIDED IN ACCORDANCE WITH
 REGULATIONS OF THE COMMISSIONER AND THE REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS PROCESS.
   6. NO FUNDS PURSUANT TO  THIS  SECTION  SHALL  BE  MADE  AVAILABLE  TO
 SUPPORT  THE  REGULAR ACADEMIC PROGRAMS OF ANY INSTITUTION PARTICIPATING
 IN THIS PROGRAM, NOR SHALL FUNDS BE  PROVIDED  FOR  PROGRAMS  WHICH  ARE
 INCOMPATIBLE  WITH THE REGENTS PLAN FOR THE EXPANSION AND DEVELOPMENT OF
 HIGHER EDUCATION IN THIS STATE.
   § 4. This act shall take effect immediately.