NY State Senate Bill 2017-S3815

Senate Bill S3815

2017-2018 Legislative Session

Directs that teachers be trained in the education of gifted students, and provides start-up funding for such training; repealer; 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 03, 2018	referred to finance
Jan 27, 2017	referred to finance

2017-S3815 (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A3141
Current Committee:: Senate Finance
Law Section:: Appropriations
Laws Affected:: Amd §3004, rpld & add §3204 sub 2-b, §3208 sub 5 ¶d, Ed L
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:: 2009-2010: S6287, A6989
2011-2012: S1272, A5506
2013-2014: S1874, A1524
2015-2016: S2922, A4268

2017-S3815 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Directs that teachers be trained in the education of gifted students, and provides start-up funding for such training; authorizes necessary rule and/or regulation changes to properly implement the provisions of this legislation; appropriates $1,000,000 therefor.

2017-S3815 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                 BILL NUMBER:  S3815

 TITLE OF BILL :

An act to amend the education law, in relation to teacher training in
programs for gifted students; to repeal certain provisions of such law
relating thereto; and making an appropriation therefor

 PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL :

Directs that teachers be trained in the education of gifted students,
and are appropriated for start-up funding in regards to said training.

 SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS :

Section 1. Amends education law by adding § 3004(7) to require, as
part of licensure and certification for teachers and certain
educational professionals, three credits of course work or training in
the education of gifted and talented, including twice-exceptional
students, as well as the inclusion of practices to identify gifted
children in required professional development plans.

Section 2. Repeals § 3204(2-b) of education law to and adds a new §
3204(2-b) to require school districts to direct the governing board of
any school district and any community school district to provide every
pupil who is diagnosed as "possibly gifted" with instruction from a

teacher who has had appropriate training in educating gifted pupils
gifted students with instruction under a teacher with appropriate
training in educating gifted pupils. This section also requires school
districts to provide acceleration opportunities for pupils in basic
branches of study.

Section 3. Repeals § 3208 (d) of the education law and adds a new §
3208 (d) to require that if diagnostic screening indicates a possibly
gifted child, the name and finding shall be reported to the
superintendent of schools of such district and to such child's parents
or guardian. Such notification shall entitle the child to Gifted
Individualized Education Programs (GIEPs) developed by certified
gifted and talented learning specialists and other services.

Section 4. Appropriates one million dollars ($1,000,000) to fund
teacher training in instruction of gifted pupils.

 JUSTIFICATION :

It is imperative for our education system to be able to meet the needs
of its brightest students, so that New York can continue to produce
and retain talented leaders. In a time of serious anxiety over whether
or not New York's education system is preparing our youth to succeed
in an increasingly competitive global economy, it is ironic that
current state law abandons this state's most promising citizens.

Currently, New York State Education Law does not require schools to
provide any services to gifted and talented students. Given this and
the lack of funding for gifted and talented programs, many schools are
simply ignoring their most gifted students. Gifted and Talented Aid is
provided through "Comprehensive Operating Aid", allowing schools to
cut gifted and talented programs and apply the funds elsewhere. The
"No Child Left Behind Act" has focused national attention on how
schools can better educate their lower achieving students. With this,
school officials feel obligated to; prioritize programs that address
the needs of their most disadvantaged students.

Funds are distributed to academic intervention services, English as a
second language programs, and special education at the expense of
gifted education. While the need to pour resources into these programs
is undeniably great, to neglect gifted and talented students riot
only-stifles the potential of New York's high-achievers, but is a
disservice to all New Yorkers. This does not need to be a zero-sum
game.

Ultimately, encouraging schools to provide challenging programs for
gifted and talented students raises the bar for all. Advancing high
quality instruction under accomplished teachers should always be a
priority.

In order to promote the continued development of exceptionally
intelligent children, this bill encourages greater awareness of gifted
and talented students, requires schools to provide instruction for
gifted students and supplies funds to assist schools in offering such
services.

 LEGISLATIVE HISTORY :

2015: S. 2922 - Referred to Senate Finance Committee / A. 4268 -
Referred to Assembly Education Committee.
2016: S. 2922 - Referred to Senate Finance Committee / A. 4268 -
Referred to Senate Education Committee.

 FISCAL IMPLICATIONS :

This measure provides one million dollars ($1,000,000), or so much
thereof as may be necessary, for payment of aid to training services
for teachers providing instruction to gifted and talented students.

 EFFECTIVE DATE :
This bill will take effect on the one hundred twentieth day following
the date on which it shall have become law, with provisions.

2017-S3815 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                            
 
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
     S. 3815                                                  A. 3141
 
                        2017-2018 Regular Sessions
 
                       S E N A T E - A S S E M B L Y
 
                             January 27, 2017
                                ___________
 
 IN SENATE -- Introduced by Sen. ADDABBO -- read twice and ordered print-
   ed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Finance
 
 IN  ASSEMBLY  --  Introduced by M. of A. THIELE, AUBRY, JAFFEE -- Multi-
   Sponsored by -- M. of A.   MAGNARELLI,  McDONOUGH  --  read  once  and
   referred to the Committee on Education

 AN  ACT  to  amend the education law, in relation to teacher training in
   programs for gifted students; to repeal certain provisions of such law
   relating thereto; 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.  Section  3004 of the education law is amended by adding a
 new subdivision 7 to read as follows:
   7. THE COMMISSIONER SHALL PRESCRIBE  REGULATIONS  REQUIRING  THAT  ALL
 PERSONS  APPLYING ON OR AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SUBDIVISION FOR
 A CERTIFICATE OR LICENSE VALID FOR SERVICE AS A CLASSROOM TEACHER, PUPIL
 PERSONNEL SERVICE PROFESSIONAL, SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR  OR  SUPERVISOR  OR
 SUPERINTENDENT  OF  SCHOOLS, SHALL, IN ADDITION TO ALL THE OTHER CERTIF-
 ICATION OR LICENSING REQUIREMENTS, HAVE COMPLETED THREE CREDITS OR  MORE
 OF COURSE WORK OR TRAINING IN THE IDENTIFICATION AND EDUCATION OF GIFTED
 AND  TALENTED  PUPILS  INCLUDING TWICE-EXCEPTIONAL PUPILS. "TWICE-EXCEP-
 TIONAL" SHALL MEAN THOSE PUPILS WHO GIVE EVIDENCE OF THE  POTENTIAL  FOR
 HIGH  COGNITIVE PROCESSING CAPABILITIES COMMENSURATE WITH OR CONTRARY TO
 COGNITIVE PROCESSING TAKEN AS NORMS OF REGULAR EDUCATION IN  AREAS  SUCH
 AS,  BUT NOT LIMITED TO: SPECIFIC ACADEMICS, GENERAL INTELLECTUAL ABILI-
 TY, CREATIVITY, LEADERSHIP, AND/OR VISUAL, SPATIAL OR  PERFORMING  ARTS;
 AND ALSO GIVE EVIDENCE OF ONE OR MORE DISABILITIES AS DEFINED BY FEDERAL
 OR  STATE  ELIGIBILITY  CRITERIA  SUCH  AS, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, SPECIFIC
 LEARNING    DISABILITIES,     SPEECH     AND     LANGUAGE     DISORDERS,
 EMOTIONAL/BEHAVIORAL  DISORDERS, PHYSICAL DISABILITIES, AUTISM SPECTRUM,
 OR OTHER HEALTH IMPAIRMENTS, SUCH AS ADHD. SUCH TERM SHALL INCLUDE THOSE
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.

                                                            LBD07291-01-7

 S. 3815                             2                            A. 3141
 
 PUPILS WHO REQUIRE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS OR SERVICES BEYOND THOSE NORMAL-
 LY PROVIDED BY THE REGULAR SCHOOL PROGRAM IN ORDER TO REALIZE THEIR FULL
 POTENTIAL.   SUCH CREDIT WORK OR TRAINING  SHALL  BE  OBTAINED  FROM  AN
 INSTITUTION  OR  PROVIDER  WHICH  HAS BEEN APPROVED BY THE DEPARTMENT TO
 PROVIDE SUCH COURSE  WORK  OR  TRAINING.  SUCH  REGULATIONS  SHALL  ALSO
 REQUIRE  THAT  SCHOOL  DISTRICTS  AND  BOARDS OF COOPERATIVE EDUCATIONAL
 SERVICES INCLUDE TRAINING FOR TEACHERS AND OTHER CERTIFIED  OR  LICENSED
 EMPLOYEES  IN  IDENTIFYING  GIFTED  AND TALENTED, INCLUDING TWICE EXCEP-
 TIONAL, STUDENTS IN THEIR REQUIRED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLANS.
   § 2. Subdivision 2-b of section 3204 of the education law is  REPEALED
 and a new subdivision 2-b is added to read as follows:
   2-B.  INSTRUCTION OF POSSIBLY GIFTED PUPILS. A. THE GOVERNING BOARD OF
 ANY SCHOOL DISTRICT AND ANY COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT IS HEREBY DIRECTED
 TO PROVIDE EVERY PUPIL  WHO  IS  DIAGNOSED  AS  "POSSIBLY  GIFTED"  WITH
 INSTRUCTION FROM A TEACHER WHO HAS HAD APPROPRIATE TRAINING IN EDUCATING
 GIFTED PUPILS.
   B.  ALL  SCHOOL DISTRICTS SHALL PROVIDE ACCELERATION OPPORTUNITIES FOR
 PUPILS IN THE BASIC BRANCHES OF STUDY.
   § 3. Paragraph d of subdivision 5 of section 3208 of the education law
 is REPEALED and a new paragraph d is added to read as follows:
   D. IF SUCH SCREENING INDICATES A POSSIBLY GIFTED CHILD, THE  NAME  AND
 FINDING  SHALL  BE  REPORTED  TO  THE  SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS OF SUCH
 DISTRICT AND TO THE PARENT OR GUARDIAN OF SUCH CHILD. SUCH  NOTIFICATION
 SHALL  ENTITLE  THE  CHILD TO GIFTED IEPS (GIEPS) DEVELOPED BY CERTIFIED
 GIFTED AND TALENTED LEARNING SPECIALISTS, AND TO OTHER SERVICES  INCLUD-
 ING,  BUT  NOT  LIMITED  TO,  DIFFERENTIATED  INSTRUCTION, CONTACT TIME,
 SOCIAL  AND  EMOTIONAL  SUPPORT,  ACADEMIC  GUIDANCE   AND   COUNSELING,
 CONTENT-BASED  ACCELERATION,  AND INSTRUCTION FROM A TEACHER WHO HAS HAD
 APPROPRIATE TRAINING IN EDUCATING GIFTED PUPILS, OR ALTERNATIVE SERVICES
 MUTUALLY AGREEABLE TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND PARENT OR GUARDIAN OF SUCH
 CHILD.
   § 4. The sum of one million dollars ($1,000,000), or so  much  thereof
 as  may be necessary, is hereby appropriated to the department of educa-
 tion out of any moneys in the state treasury in the general fund to  the
 credit  of the state purposes fund, not otherwise appropriated, and made
 immediately available, for the sole purpose of  providing  training  for
 teachers  in providing education to possibly gifted, including twice-ex-
 ceptional pupils in the public elementary schools. Such moneys shall  be
 payable  on  the audit and warrant of the comptroller on vouchers certi-
 fied or  approved  by  the  commissioner  of  education  in  the  manner
 prescribed by law.
   §  5. This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day next
 succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law; provided,  that
 effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule
 or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effec-
 tive  date  are  authorized  and directed to be made and completed on or
 before such effective date; and provided, however, that  the  amendments
 to  section  3208 of the education law made by section three of this act
 shall not affect the expiration of such section and shall be  deemed  to
 expire therewith.

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