Senate Bill S5255

                                
 
BILL NUMBER: S5255

SPONSOR: GOUNARDES
 
TITLE OF BILL:  CONCURRENT RESOLUTION OF THE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY
proposing an amendment to the Constitution, in relation to education of
pupils through undergraduate

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

This amendment would require New York to provide free, quality education
from prekindergarten through post secondary school.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section one amends section one of article eleven of the Constitution by
adding a requirement of the State to provide quality, free public educa-
tion for prekindergarten through college.

Section two states that the foregoing amendment be referred to the first
regular legislative session convening after the next succeeding general
election of members of the assembly, and, in conformity with section 1
              

of article 19 of the Constitution, be published for 3 months previous to
the time of such election

 
EXISTING LAW:

The Constitution does not currently require public education to be qual-
ity nor does it include post secondary education in its definition of
free, common schools in the State.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

The U.S. needs a public education system for the 21st century that goes
beyond our outdated concept of K-12 education and redefines our commit-
ment to education to include both early childhood development and post-
secondary schooling. New York should become the first state in the coun-
try to constitutionally guarantee free, quality public education from
pre-K through college.

We know the kind of basic, quality public education students need to
compete and succeed in the future, but New York is not currently commit-
ted to providing it to them. Yes, Mayor de Blasio and Gov.  Andrew Cuomo
have both made strides to make pre-K and post-secondary education more
accessible to all New Yorkers through UPK and the Excelsior Scholarship,
a program that allows students to attend state university and city
university colleges tuition-free if they attend full-time and meet
certain income requirements. But these programs by themselves are insuf-
ficient. Even with UPK and Excelsior, millions of young New Yorkers are
left behind: Students who don't have access to free pre-K and those
whose families don't meet income requirements or are unable to attend
school full-time; 79 percent of 4-year-olds in the state outside of New
York City lack full-day pre-K.

And, although post-secondary education is necessary for students to have
their best chance at future success, the costs of college makes it inac-
cessible for many. And, to succeed in the 21st century job market, most
students will need some post-secondary education at a minimum. Current
projections indicate that 3.5 million jobs in New York State will
require an associate's degree or higher by 2024.
New York should set an example for the country by adopting a constitu-
tional amendment guaranteeing pre-K and college education for all, so
that every child has the opportunity to reach their full potential.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

To be determined.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall be referred to the first regular legislative session
convening after the next succeeding general election of members of the
Assembly, and, in conformity with Section 1 of Article 19 of the Consti-
tution, be published for 3 months previous to the time of such election.