S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   7126
 
                        2019-2020 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                              April 10, 2019
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  M. of A. BRONSON, ROMEO -- read once and referred to the
   Committee on Education
 
 AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to  the  creation  of  an
   adult high school career accelerator demonstration project
 
   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 article 107 to
 read as follows:
                                ARTICLE 107
        ADULT HIGH SCHOOL CAREER ACCELERATOR DEMONSTRATION PROJECT
 SECTION 5300. LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS.
         5301. DEFINITIONS.
         5302. ADULT  HIGH  SCHOOL   DEMONSTRATION   CAREER   ACCELERATOR
                 PROJECT.
         5303. TERM OF PROJECT; OPTION TO MAKE PERMANENT.
   §  5300. LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS. SEVERAL STATES HAVE SUCCESSFULLY IMPLE-
 MENTED SECONDARY EDUCATION PROGRAMS GEARED TOWARDS THE UNIQUE  NEEDS  OF
 ADULT  LEARNERS  AND  WHICH  LEAD TO A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA.  BY COUPLING
 RIGOROUS ACADEMIC CURRICULA WITH TRAINING PROGRAMS THAT LEAD TO  CREDEN-
 TIALS  FOR  IN-DEMAND  JOBS  AND  EXTENSIVE WRAPAROUND SUPPORT SERVICES,
 THESE PROGRAMS CREATE AN ADULT-ORIENTED LEARNING  ENVIRONMENT  CONDUCIVE
 TO  SUCCESS.  THE LEGISLATURE HEREBY DECLARES THAT A PROPERLY STRUCTURED
 SECONDARY EDUCATION PROGRAM FOR  ADULT  LEARNERS  WOULD  REDUCE  POVERTY
 LEVELS  BY  HELPING  SUCH INDIVIDUALS' TRANSITION TO THE WORKFORCE OR TO
 POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION.
   THE CITY OF ROCHESTER AREA HAS MORE THAN THIRTY-FIVE  THOUSAND  ADULTS
 WITHOUT  HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMAS, CONTRIBUTING TO THE FACT THAT ITS POVERTY
 RATE IS HIGHER THAN IN ALL EIGHTEEN "BENCHMARK CITIES" OF  SIMILAR  SIZE
 AND  FOURTH-WORST  AMONG  THE SEVENTY-FIVE LARGEST AMERICAN CITIES.  THE
 CHILD POVERTY RATE IN ROCHESTER IS FIFTY AND  ONE-HALF  PERCENT.  ACROSS

  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD10953-01-9
              

 A. 7126                             2
 
 THE  STATE, IT IS ESTIMATED THERE ARE MORE THAN ONE MILLION FIVE HUNDRED
 THOUSAND ADULTS WITHOUT HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMAS.
   § 5301. DEFINITIONS. AS USED IN THIS ARTICLE:
   1. "ADULT HIGH SCHOOL CAREER ACCELERATOR PROJECT" OR "PROGRAM" MEANS A
 PRIVATE  OR  INDEPENDENT  HIGH SCHOOL REGISTERED BY THE DEPARTMENT WHICH
 PROVIDES ADULT LEARNERS WITH AN APPROPRIATE ACADEMIC ENVIRONMENT, CAREER
 CREDENTIALING PROGRAMS AND THE NECESSARY WRAPAROUND SERVICES  NEEDED  TO
 PURSUE  AND  OBTAIN,  SUBJECT TO SATISFACTORY COMPLETION OF THE REQUIRE-
 MENTS SET FORTH WITHIN THIS ARTICLE, A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA. FOR PURPOSES
 OF THE PROGRAM, SUCH ADULT HIGH  SCHOOL  ACCELERATOR  PROJECT  SHALL  BE
 LOCATED  WITHIN  THE  CORPORATE  BOUNDARIES  OF THE CITY OF ROCHESTER AS
 DEFINED BY THE OFFICIAL CITY MAP MAINTAINED BY THE CITY OF ROCHESTER.
   2. "ADULT LEARNER" MEANS AN INDIVIDUAL OVER THE AGE OF TWENTY-ONE  WHO
 HAS  NOT  EARNED  A  HIGH  SCHOOL  DIPLOMA  OR ITS EQUIVALENT AND WHO IS
 ENROLLED IN A REGISTERED ADULT HIGH SCHOOL CAREER ACCELERATOR PROJECT.
   3. "OPERATOR" MEANS A PRIVATE NONPROFIT  ENTITY  THAT  ESTABLISHES  AN
 ADULT HIGH SCHOOL CAREER ACCELERATOR PROJECT PURSUANT TO THIS ARTICLE.
   4.  "WRAPAROUND  SERVICES"  MEANS  INDIVIDUALIZED  SERVICES, EXCLUDING
 REGULAR SCHOOL PROGRAMS AND SERVICES, THAT ARE  PROVIDED  TO  THE  ADULT
 LEARNER  AND  THE  ADULT  LEARNER'S  FAMILY, AND MAY INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE
 LIMITED TO, CHILD CARE, TRANSPORTATION, HOUSING REFERRALS, MENTAL HEALTH
 SERVICES, CRISIS INTERVENTION SERVICES, SUBSTANCE  ABUSE  AND  TREATMENT
 SERVICES, AND LEGAL AID.
   §  5302.  ADULT  HIGH SCHOOL DEMONSTRATION CAREER ACCELERATOR PROJECT.
 1. THERE IS HEREBY CREATED UNDER THE AUTHORITY AND  SUPERVISION  OF  THE
 DEPARTMENT   AN  ADULT  HIGH  SCHOOL  CAREER  ACCELERATOR  DEMONSTRATION
 PROJECT, THE PURPOSE OF WHICH IS TO ESTABLISH A PATHWAY FOR  ADULTS  WHO
 DID  NOT  GRADUATE  FROM  HIGH  SCHOOL TO EARN A TRADITIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
 DIPLOMA AND ONE  OR  MORE  WORKFORCE  CREDENTIALS  OR  INDUSTRY  CERTIF-
 ICATIONS, AS WELL AS THE POTENTIAL TO EARN POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION CRED-
 ITS.
   2.  THE  DEPARTMENT  SHALL  CREATE  A STANDARDIZED APPLICATION PROCESS
 UNDER WHICH POTENTIAL OPERATORS MAY  SEEK  TO  REGISTER  AN  ADULT  HIGH
 SCHOOL CAREER ACCELERATOR DEMONSTRATION PROJECT. THE APPLICATION PROCESS
 SHALL REQUIRE, AT A MINIMUM, POTENTIAL OPERATORS TO PROVIDE:
   (A) INFORMATION ABOUT THE QUALIFICATIONS OF THE POTENTIAL OPERATOR;
   (B) A MINIMUM OF ONE MILLION DOLLARS TO THE PROJECT;
   (C)  INFORMATION  ABOUT  THE  FACILITY WHICH WILL HOUSE THE ADULT HIGH
 SCHOOL CAREER ACCELERATOR DEMONSTRATION PROJECT;
   (D) INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED CURRICULUM, ASSESSMENT  PROCEDURES,
 PERFORMANCE STANDARDS, AND WRAPAROUND SERVICES;
   (E) A PROPOSED BUDGET AND EXPLANATION OF HOW THE POTENTIAL SCHOOL WILL
 BE FINANCED;
   (F)  A  DESCRIPTION OF ANY PROGRAMS OR PARTNERSHIPS WITH ORGANIZATIONS
 OR BUSINESSES FOR PROVIDING  JOB  SKILLS,  INDUSTRY  CERTIFICATIONS,  OR
 HIGHER EDUCATION CREDITS;
   (G)  PLANS  FOR  WORKING  WITH  ADULT  LEARNERS  WITH DISABILITIES AND
 ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS; AND
   (H) INFORMATION ABOUT THE ADVISORY BOARD  OF  THE  ADULT  HIGH  SCHOOL
 CAREER ACCELERATOR DEMONSTRATION PROJECT SEEKING TO BE REGISTERED.
   3. THE PROGRAM SHALL:
   (A) ADOPT A CURRICULUM THAT IS CONSISTENT WITH NEW YORK STATE LEARNING
 STANDARDS BUT MAY BE DIFFERENT THAN A REGULAR SCHOOL PROGRAM IN TERMS OF
 LOCATION,  LENGTH  OF SCHOOL DAY, PACE FOR COMPLETION, AND INSTRUCTIONAL
 ACTIVITIES;

 A. 7126                             3
 
   (B) NOT ISSUE A TRADITIONAL HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA TO  AN  ADULT  LEARNER
 UNLESS  SUCH ADULT LEARNER HAS SATISFIED THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS SET BY
 THE DEPARTMENT;
   (C)  CONSULT WITH THE NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND MAY PART-
 NER WITH NEW YORK  STATE'S  COMMUNITY  COLLEGES  OR  OTHER  ENTITIES  TO
 PROVIDE  CAREER AND OCCUPATIONAL EDUCATIONAL COURSES THAT LEAD TO INDUS-
 TRY CERTIFICATIONS, LICENSES, OR CREDENTIALS;
   (D) PROVIDE ALL THEIR SERVICES TO ADULT LEARNERS AT  NO  COST  TO  THE
 ADULT LEARNERS;
   (E)  PROVIDE  FACE-TO-FACE CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION ON A YEAR-ROUND BASIS
 WITH CLASS OFFERINGS IN THE MORNING, AFTERNOON,  AND  EVENINGS  AND  MAY
 OFFER ACCELERATED TERMS; AND
   (F) ASSIGN A LIFE COACH TO EVERY ADULT LEARNER.
   4. UNDER THE PROGRAM, THE DEPARTMENT MAY APPROVE ADDITIONAL LOCATIONS,
 EACH  OF  WHICH  MAY ENROLL A MAXIMUM OF THREE HUNDRED FIFTY ADULT LEAR-
 NERS.
   5. THE ADULT HIGH  SCHOOL  CAREER  ACCELERATOR  DEMONSTRATION  PROJECT
 SHALL  HAVE  AN  ADVISORY  BOARD  WHICH  SHALL  CONSIST OF AT LEAST FIVE
 MEMBERS, AT LEAST ONE OF WHICH SHALL BE APPOINTED BY THE DEPARTMENT.
   6. NO LATER THAN OCTOBER FIRST OF EACH YEAR, THE OPERATOR  UNDER  THIS
 PROGRAM SHALL PROVIDE THE DEPARTMENT WITH A REPORT, THE FORM AND CONTENT
 OF WHICH SHALL BE DETERMINED BY THE DEPARTMENT.
   7.  AN  ADULT HIGH SCHOOL CAREER ACCELERATOR PROGRAM ESTABLISHED UNDER
 THIS ARTICLE SHALL NOT BE CONSIDERED  A  PUBLIC  SCHOOL  FOR  STATE  AID
 PURPOSES; HOWEVER, ADULT HIGH SCHOOL CAREER ACCELERATOR LOCATIONS REGIS-
 TERED PURSUANT TO THIS ARTICLE SHALL BE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE PUBLIC FUND-
 ING  IN  THE  FORM OF SPECIFIC APPROPRIATIONS, STATE AND FEDERAL GRANTS,
 AND ANY OTHER AVAILABLE RESOURCES. ADULT HIGH SCHOOLS  MAY  ALSO  ACCEPT
 PRIVATE CONTRIBUTIONS.
   8.  THE  DEPARTMENT  SHALL  ADOPT  RULES  AND REGULATIONS NECESSARY TO
 ADMINISTER THE PROGRAM AUTHORIZED BY THIS ARTICLE.
   § 5303. TERM OF PROJECT; OPTION TO MAKE PERMANENT. 1. THE  ADULT  HIGH
 SCHOOL CAREER ACCELERATOR DEMONSTRATION PROJECT AUTHORIZED BY THIS ARTI-
 CLE  SHALL REMAIN IN EFFECT FOR A MINIMUM OF FIVE YEARS AFTER THE EFFEC-
 TIVE DATE OF THIS ARTICLE.
   2. IF THE DEPARTMENT  DETERMINES  THAT  THE  PROGRAM  IS  SERVING  ITS
 INTENDED PURPOSE, THE ADULT HIGH SCHOOL CAREER ACCELERATOR DEMONSTRATION
 PROJECT  SHALL,  SUBJECT  TO THE PERMISSION AND AUTHORITY OF THE DEPART-
 MENT, BECOME PERMANENT AND SHALL BE RENAMED THE ADULT HIGH SCHOOL CAREER
 ACCELERATOR PROGRAM.  SUCH PROGRAM MAY BE EXTENDED TO ADDITIONAL REGIONS
 OF THE STATE TO OPERATORS WHO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS UNDER  THE  PROGRAM.
 THE  DEPARTMENT  SHALL  MAKE SUCH DETERMINATION IN CONSULTATION WITH THE
 OPERATORS, THE MEMBERS OF THE OPERATORS' ADVISORY BOARDS, THE DEPARTMENT
 OF LABOR, AND OTHER RELEVANT STAKEHOLDERS,  NO  LATER  THAN  SIX  MONTHS
 PRIOR TO THE END OF THE FIVE-YEAR PERIOD.
   § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.