Assembly Bill A246

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                    246
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                                (PREFILED)
 
                              January 8, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced by M. of A. EACHUS -- read once and referred to the Committee
   on Education
 
 AN  ACT  to  amend  the  education  law,  in relation to establishing an
   advanced coursework and examination access program
 
   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 819 to
 read as follows:
   §  819. ADVANCED COURSEWORK AND EXAMINATION ACCESS PROGRAM. 1. FOR THE
 PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, THE FOLLOWING TERMS SHALL HAVE  THE  FOLLOWING
 MEANINGS:
   A.  "ADVANCED COURSEWORK PROGRAM" SHALL MEAN A COURSE OF STUDY OFFERED
 BY A NONPROFIT FOUNDATION OR  ORGANIZATION  TO  STUDENTS  OF  AUTHORIZED
 SCHOOLS  THAT  RESULTS  IN  THE  AWARD OF COLLEGE CREDIT OR BY WHICH THE
 COMPLETION OF THE PROGRAM COMMONLY RESULTS IN THE DISCRETIONARY GRANTING
 OF CREDIT BY  COLLEGES  AT  ENROLLMENT,  SUCH  TERM  SHALL  NOT  INCLUDE
 PROGRAMS OFFERED BY INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION PURSUANT TO SECTION
 TWO OF THIS CHAPTER.
   B. "ADVANCED COURSEWORK PROVIDER" SHALL MEAN A NONPROFIT FOUNDATION OR
 ORGANIZATION  THAT DEVELOPS AND ADMINISTERS ADVANCED COURSEWORK PROGRAMS
 AND IS RECOGNIZED BY THE COMMISSIONER AND THE BOARD OF REGENTS.
   C. "ADVANCED COURSEWORK EXAM" SHALL MEAN ANY TEST OR EXAM ADMINISTERED
 AS A COMPONENT OF AN ADVANCED COURSEWORK PROGRAM AND IS A REQUIREMENT OF
 THE PROGRAM IN ORDER FOR A  STUDENT  TO  ACHIEVE  COLLEGE  CREDIT  OR  A
 DISCRETIONARY  EQUIVALENT AS DEFINED BY PARAGRAPH A OF THIS SUBDIVISION.
 SUCH TEST OR EXAM MUST REQUIRE A FEE PRIOR TO ADMINISTRATION.
   D. "AUTHORIZED SCHOOL" SHALL MEAN AN INSTITUTION OF  SECONDARY  EDUCA-
 TION  THAT  HAS  COMPLETED AN AUDIT OR AUTHORIZATION PROCESS THROUGH THE
 ADVANCED COURSEWORK PROVIDER ALLOWING FOR THE DELIVERY  OF  AN  ADVANCED
 COURSEWORK PROGRAM.
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                            LBD01416-01-5
 A. 246                              2
 
   E.  "EXAM  FEE"  SHALL  MEAN THE BILLED COST OF AN ADVANCED COURSEWORK
 EXAM.
   F.  "PROVIDER  FEE  REDUCTION"  SHALL  MEAN  A  REDUCTION OR FINANCIAL
 ASSISTANCE GRANTED BY AN ADVANCED COURSEWORK PROVIDER FOR CERTAIN QUALI-
 FYING STUDENTS TO PARTIALLY REDUCE AN EXAM FEE.
   2. THE DEPARTMENT IS AUTHORIZED AND DIRECTED TO  REIMBURSE  EXAM  FEES
 ASSOCIATED  WITH THE ADMINISTRATION OF AN ADVANCED COURSEWORK EXAM.  THE
 AMOUNT OF SUCH REIMBURSEMENT SHALL REFLECT  THE  PER  PUPIL  COST  AFTER
 TAKING INTO ACCOUNT ANY PROVIDER FEE REDUCTION.
   3.  SCHOOL DISTRICTS HOSTING ONE OR MORE AUTHORIZED SCHOOLS SHALL FILE
 WITH THE COMMISSIONER, IN A FORM DETERMINED  BY  THE  COMMISSIONER,  ALL
 INFORMATION  RELEVANT  TO  SECURING A REIMBURSEMENT BY JUNE FIRST OF THE
 BASE YEAR. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL PROVIDE THE SCHOOL DISTRICT HOSTING  ONE
 OR  MORE AUTHORIZED SCHOOLS THE REIMBURSEMENT WITHIN THIRTY DAYS OF SUCH
 FILING.
   4. AUTHORIZED SCHOOLS ARE DIRECTED TO INFORM STUDENTS AND  PARENTS  OF
 ALL  ADVANCED  COURSEWORK  PROGRAMS OFFERED, THEIR COST-FREE STATUS, AND
 THE POTENTIAL BENEFITS OF THEIR SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION AS IT  RELATES  TO
 COLLEGE CREDIT AND OTHER ACADEMIC OPPORTUNITIES. SUCH NOTIFICATION SHALL
 BE  PROVIDED  TO  EACH  STUDENT  AND PARENT DIRECTLY AT THE START OF THE
 ACADEMIC YEAR AND MADE AVAILABLE ON THE SCHOOL WEBSITE.
   § 2. This act shall take effect on the first of July  next  succeeding
 the date on which it shall have become a law.