NY State Senate Bill 2011-S2555

Senate Bill S2555

2011-2012 Legislative Session

Provides for grants for use of computer technology in kindergarten and grade one; appropriation

download bill text pdf

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Finance Committee

Introduced
- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
Delivered to Governor
Signed By Governor

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	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Jan 25, 2011	referred to finance

2011-S2555 (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A3492
Current Committee:: Senate Finance
Law Section:: Appropriations
Laws Affected:: Add §319, Ed L
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:: 2009-2010: S374, A855
2013-2014: A1032

2011-S2555 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Authorizes the commissioner of education to award grants to local school districts for the use of computer technology to teach reading and writing skills to students in kindergarten and grade 1; provides a preference for schools which need assistance; appropriates $5,000,000 therefor.

2011-S2555 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                BILL NUMBER:S2555

TITLE OF BILL:
An act
to amend the education law, in relation to grants for use of
computer technology by students in kindergarten and grade one and
making an appropriation therefor

PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
The purpose of this bill is to make available $5,000,000 for grants
to local school districts for use of computer technology to teach
reading and writing skills to students in kindergarten and first
grade students.

SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
This bill amends the education law to provide grants to local school
districts for use of computer technology by kindergarten and first
grade students. Grants will be awarded to school districts based upon
plans prescribed by the Commissioner of Education. School districts
wishing to participate in this program must demonstrate that local
revenues will support 50% of the total cost of the program. The
Commissioner will give preference to schools in need of assistance
and to schools whose plans include making the technology available
for all kindergarten and first grade classes within designated
buildings.

State funds will be awarded to school districts, which meet the
following criteria:

A. Plans will not be approved for funding unless they include
documentation, which shows that the proposed system has been
evaluated and data is available which supports claims of
effectiveness with target pupils.

B. Priority will be given to those schools which 1) have been selected
by the Commissioner as being in need of assistance and 2) indicate
that all kindergarten and first grade classes within the building
will be included in the project.

C. The plan to use technology must include a detailed evaluation
design that will result in valuable data being submitted to the
Commissioner in accordance with the schedule the Commissioner
prescribes.

D. The plan submitted to the Commissioner to use the technology funded
partially under the program must also include the specific in service
training program which will insure that teachers and administrators
within the building and district are adequately trained to use the
technology to its fullest potential.

JUSTIFICATION:

The Education Testing Service (ETS) has evaluated the program (Writing
to Read) that this bill would fund. The results show that, on the
average, Writing to Read students progressed faster that the national
norm samples on standardized reading tests.
Teachers and parents of Writing to Read students also reported that
the children showed more ability in writing and reading than students
not involved in Writing to Read.

PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
A.451/S.212 of 2007/08

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
$5,000,000.00 (five million dollars)

EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately.

2011-S2555 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                            
                    S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________

    S. 2555                                                  A. 3492

                       2011-2012 Regular Sessions

                      S E N A T E - A S S E M B L Y

                            January 25, 2011
                               ___________

IN  SENATE -- Introduced by Sen. KRUGER -- read twice and ordered print-
  ed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Finance

IN ASSEMBLY -- Introduced by M. of A. GIBSON -- read once  and  referred
  to the Committee on Education

AN  ACT  to  amend  the  education law, in relation to grants for use of
  computer technology by students in  kindergarten  and  grade  one  and
  making an appropriation therefor

  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 319 to
read as follows:
  S 319. GRANTS FOR PROMOTING USE OF TECHNOLOGY; KINDERGARTEN AND  GRADE
ONE.  1. THE COMMISSIONER SHALL AWARD GRANTS FROM FUNDS AVAILABLE THERE-
FOR TO LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS FOR THE  USE  OF  COMPUTER  TECHNOLOGY  TO
TEACH  READING  AND WRITING SKILLS TO STUDENTS IN KINDERGARTEN AND GRADE
ONE BASED ON PLANS TO USE TECHNOLOGY SUBMITTED TO HIM OR HER IN A FORMAT
PRESCRIBED BY HIS OR HER GUIDELINES.
  2. SCHOOL DISTRICTS WISHING TO RECEIVE SUCH  GRANTS  MUST  DEMONSTRATE
THAT  FIFTY  PERCENT  OF THE TOTAL COST OF THEIR PROGRAM IS SUPPORTED BY
LOCAL REVENUES. THE COMMISSIONER SHALL GIVE  PREFERENCE  TO  SCHOOLS  IN
NEED  OF  ASSISTANCE AND TO SCHOOLS WHOSE PLANS INCLUDE MAKING THE TECH-
NOLOGY AVAILABLE FOR ALL KINDERGARTEN AND  FIRST  GRADE  CLASSES  WITHIN
DESIGNATED  BUILDINGS.  SUCH  PLANS  SHALL  NOT  BE APPROVED FOR FUNDING
UNLESS THEY INCLUDE DOCUMENTATION WHICH SHOWS THAT THE  PROPOSED  SYSTEM
HAS BEEN EVALUATED AND DATA IS AVAILABLE WHICH SUPPORTS CLAIMS OF EFFEC-
TIVENESS  WITH  TARGET  PUPILS.  PRIORITY SHALL BE GIVEN TO THOSE SCHOOL
BUILDINGS WHICH (1) HAVE BEEN SELECTED BY THE COMMISSIONER AS  BEING  IN
NEED  OF ASSISTANCE AND (2) INDICATE THAT ALL KINDERGARTEN AND GRADE ONE
CLASSES WITHIN THE BUILDING WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE PROJECT.  SUCH  PLAN
TO  USE  THE  TECHNOLOGY MUST INCLUDE A DETAILED EVALUATION DESIGN WHICH

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD07236-01-1

S. 2555                             2                            A. 3492

WILL RESULT IN EVALUATIVE DATA BEING SUBMITTED TO  THE  COMMISSIONER  IN
ACCORDANCE  WITH  THE  SCHEDULE  HE  OR  SHE  PRESCRIBES AND INCLUDE THE
SPECIFIC INSERVICE TRAINING PROGRAM WHICH WILL ENSURE THAT TEACHERS  AND
ADMINISTRATORS  WITHIN  THE BUILDING AND DISTRICT ARE ADEQUATELY TRAINED
TO USE THE TECHNOLOGY TO ITS FULLEST POTENTIAL.
  S 2. The sum of five million dollars ($5,000,000), or so much  thereof
as  may be necessary, is hereby appropriated to the education department
from any moneys in the state treasury in the general fund to the  credit
of  the  local  assistance account not otherwise appropriated for school
district grants for the purposes of carrying out the provisions of  this
act.  Such  sum  shall  be payable on the audit and warrant of the state
comptroller on vouchers certified or approved  by  the  commissioner  of
education,  or  his  or her duly designated representative in the manner
provided by law. No expenditure shall be made  from  this  appropriation
until  a  certificate of approval of availability shall have been issued
by the director of the budget and filed with the state comptroller and a
copy filed with the chairperson of the senate finance committee and  the
chairperson  of the assembly ways and means committee.  Such certificate
may be amended from time to time by the director of  the  budget  and  a
copy  of  each such amendment shall be filed with the state comptroller,
the chairperson of the senate finance committee and the  chairperson  of
the assembly ways and means committee.
  S 3. This act shall take effect immediately.

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