S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   5258
 
                        2021-2022 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             February 12, 2021
                                ___________
 
 Introduced by M. of A. ABINANTI -- read once and referred to the Commit-
   tee on Education
 
 AN  ACT  to  amend the education law, in relation to creating the career
   and practical education pathway to a high school diploma
 
   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 817 to
 read as follows:
   §  817. CAREER AND PRACTICAL EDUCATION PATHWAY TO A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLO-
 MA. 1. A. A CAREER AND PRACTICAL  EDUCATION  (CPE)  PATHWAY  TO  A  HIGH
 SCHOOL  DIPLOMA  IS HEREBY ESTABLISHED. A CPE PATHWAY TO A DIPLOMA, MADE
 AVAILABLE BY A SCHOOL DISTRICT SHALL:
   (I) RESULT IN A GENERAL DIPLOMA;
   (II) DIFFER FROM THE TRADITIONAL REQUIREMENTS  TO  A  GENERAL  DIPLOMA
 WITH  RESPECT  TO  REQUIRED ASSESSMENTS, EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE REQUIRED BY
 FEDERAL LAW; AND
   (III) BE MADE AVAILABLE TO ALL STUDENTS, INCLUDING STUDENTS WITH DISA-
 BILITIES AND ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS.
   B. A CPE PATHWAY TO A DIPLOMA SHALL BE BASED  ON  A  COURSE  OF  STUDY
 DESIGNED  TO  PROVIDE  STUDENTS  WITH PRACTICAL KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS AND
 SHALL DEMONSTRATE THAT THE STUDENT IS READY FOR A CAREER  AS  DETERMINED
 BY REGULATIONS OF THE BOARD OF REGENTS. A CPE PATHWAY TO A DIPLOMA SHALL
 INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO:
   (I) COMPLETION OF A CPE COURSE OF STUDY;
   (II) COMPLETION OF SCHOOL GIVEN FINAL EXAMS;
   (III) COMPLETION OF WORK-BASED LEARNING EXPERIENCES AS PROVIDED BY THE
 STATE APPROVED PROGRAM; AND
   (IV) COMPLETION OF A WORK-SKILLS EMPLOYABILITY PROFILE.
   C.  FOR  PURPOSES  OF  THIS  SECTION, A CAREER AND PRACTICAL EDUCATION
 SHALL INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO, A COURSE OF STUDY IN THE FOLLOWING
 CAREER FIELDS: AGRICULTURE EDUCATION, BUSINESS AND MARKETING  EDUCATION,

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

                                                            LBD01086-01-1

 A. 5258                             2
 
 FAMILY  AND  CONSUMER  SCIENCES EDUCATION, HEALTH OCCUPATIONS EDUCATION,
 TECHNICAL EDUCATION, TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION, PRACTICAL ARTS EDUCATION  AND
 TRADE AND INDUSTRIAL EDUCATION.
   2.  THE  BOARD  OF  REGENTS  SHALL  PROMULGATE SUCH REGULATIONS TO THE
 COMMISSIONER AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO CREATE THE  CURRICULUM,  ASSESSMENTS
 AND  ANY  OTHER  CRITERIA  THAT  STUDENTS MUST ACHIEVE TO EARN A GENERAL
 DIPLOMA VIA A CPE PATHWAY.
   3. STUDENTS FIRST ENTERING TWELFTH GRADE IN THE TWO  THOUSAND  TWENTY-
 ONE--TWO  THOUSAND TWENTY-TWO SCHOOL YEAR AND THEREAFTER SHALL BE ELIGI-
 BLE TO EARN A DIPLOMA VIA A CPE PATHWAY.
   § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.