NY State Senate Bill 2021-S4015

Senate Bill S4015

2021-2022 Legislative Session

Authorizes the chancellor of the city district to control and operate certain specialized high schools in the city of New York

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Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee New York City Education 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 05, 2022	referred to new york city education
Feb 01, 2021	referred to new york city education

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2021-S4015 (ACTIVE) - Details

Current Committee:: Senate New York City Education
Law Section:: Education Law
Laws Affected:: Amd §§2590-a & 2590-h, Ed L; add §21-974.1, NYC Ad Cd
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:: 2019-2020: S6510
2023-2024: S2492

2021-S4015 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Authorizes the chancellor of the city district to control and operate certain specialized high schools in the city of New York; establishes a commission on middle school achievement; provides for the repeal of certain provisions upon the expiration thereof.

2021-S4015 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                
 
BILL NUMBER: S4015

SPONSOR: COMRIE
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the education law and the administrative code of the
city of New York, in relation to authorizing the chancellor of the city
district to control and operate certain specialized high schools in the
city of New York and to establish a commission on middle school achieve-
ment; and providing for the repeal of certain provisions upon the expi-
ration thereof

 
PURPOSE:

Creates additional New York City specialized high schools; by the 2020-
2021 academic year, guarantees the availability of free specialized high
school admissions test tutoring services to all students; by the
2020-2021 academic year, requires eligible eighth grade public school
students to take the specialized high school admissions test ("SHSAT")
but with the ability to opt-out; by the 2020-2021 academic year, creates
new Gifted and Talented programs for elementary and middle school
students and requires eligible students to take the Gifted and Talented

admissions exam; mandates the New York City Department of Education
shall conduct additional outreach concerning specialized high schools
and the specialized high school admissions test; and immediately estab-
lishes a commission to evaluate New York City's middle schools and offer
recommendations for improvement.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1, Paragraph (b) of subdivision 1 of section 2590-h of the
education law, as amended by chapter 345 of the laws of 2009, is a mend-
ed to: require all eighth grade public school students to take the
specialized high school admissions test unless opted out of the exam by
a parent or guardian; and require that the chancellor undertake a peri-
odic study of the SHSAT to evaluate the SHSAT's predictive validity
concerning students' performance at specialized high schools and whether
questions on the SHSAT evidence bias on the basis of sex, gender, race,
religion or creed, national origin or ancestry, or income and that the
results of such a study be made publicly available.

Section 2, subdivision 2 of section 2590-h of the education law, as
amended by chapter 345 of the laws of 2009, is amended to establish:
ten new specialized high schools, targeting geographically underrepre-
sented school districts; a publicly funded test preparation program for
all public school students in sixth and seventh grades; and an outreach
program to raise awareness about the specialized high school admission
test.

Section 3, Tide 21A, Chapter 12 of the administrative code of the city
of New York is amended by adding a new section 21-974.1 to create Gifted
and Talented programs in each school district.

Section 2590-b of the education law, is amended, by renumbering the
current subdivision 7 as subdivision 8, and inserting prior to the
renumbered subdivision 8, a new subdivision 7, to establish a council on
middle schools within 30 days that will review educational policies and
practices of city middle schools and recommend best practices to foster
student achievement.
 
JUSTIFICATION:

New York City must end the inequities in the city's specialized high
schools. While Black and Latino students make up almost 70% of New York
City public school children, Black and Latino students have been histor-
ically underrepresented in specialized high schools, recently accounting
for just 10% of students at these schools.

This legislation provides a comprehensive plan to increase diversity at
New York City's specialized high schools by improving educational oppor-
tunities in every community; creating more specialized high schools
across the five boroughs; and ensuring that every student-regardless of
race, income, or background-has equal access to high-quality, publicly
funded test preparation. This aim is achieved in five principal ways:
(1) increasing the number of specialized high schools, including by
establishing ten new schools; (2) creating a commission to recommend
improvements to New York City middle schools; (3) investing in free
SHSAT prep for every sixth and seventh grade student in the city; (4)
requiring every eighth grader to take the SHSAT, subject to a parent or
guardian's right to opt out, and establishing an outreach program to
increase participation of underrepresented communities in preparing for
and taking the SHSAT; (5) creating a Gifted & Talented program in every
district. Each is explained in more detail below.

First, this legislation addresses the needs of the school districts
across the city without access to a specialized high school. There are
currently only 15,000 seats for over 360,000 high school students. The
creation of ten new specialized high schools ensures that more students,
especially those from underserved areas, will have access to a special-
ized high school.

Second, this legislation focuses on the need to improve New York City
middle schools. Currently, 15 district middle schools account for half
of the new students admitted to specialized high schools. Four hundred
eighty-five schools admitted five or fewer students. By establishing a
special commission focused on researching, evaluating and proposing
recommendations that reform middle school education, the legislation
addresses the root cause of the lack of diversity in the specialized
high schools.

Third, the legislation creates a free SHSAT preparation program for
every sixth and seventh grade student, citywide. Today, more than 90% of
NYC middle schools do not have access to publicly-funded test prep. With
a meaningful, public investment in test prep programs, students in
underrepresented communities gain the opportunity to excel on the exam.
This legislation also provides for fairer access to the test itself.
Currently, most students can only take the test on a single fall week-
end. Moving forward, students will be able to take the test during regu-
lar school hours.

Fourth, this legislation creates a requirement for every eighth grader
to take the SHSAT. Only a small minority of Black and Latino students
currently take the SHSAT, reducing the number of eligible applicants for
the specialized high schools. To increase awareness around the exam and
expand the pool of Black and Latino test takers, the legislation also
establishes an outreach program that utilizes technology and partner--
ships across city agencies to reach students and their parents both at
home and in school.
Finally, this legislation establishes Gifted & Talented programs in
every district. By creating accessible programs that offer advanced
education from a young age, the legislation creates a pipeline of diver-
sity from elementary to high school.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New bill.

 
FISCAL IMPACT:

This bill would have no fiscal impact on New York State.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediate.

2021-S4015 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                            
 
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   4015
 
                        2021-2022 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             February 1, 2021
                                ___________
 
 Introduced by Sens. COMRIE, GOUNARDES -- read twice and ordered printed,
   and  when  printed  to  be committed to the Committee on New York City
   Education
 
 AN ACT to amend the education law and the  administrative  code  of  the
   city  of  New  York,  in relation to authorizing the chancellor of the
   city district to control and operate certain specialized high  schools
   in the city of New York and to establish a commission on middle school
   achievement;  and  providing for the repeal of certain provisions upon
   the expiration thereof
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1. Section 2590-a of the education law is amended by adding a
 new subdivision 11 to read as follows:
   11. SPECIALIZED HIGH SCHOOL ADMISSIONS TEST.   THE  TERM  "SPECIALIZED
 HIGH  SCHOOL  ADMISSIONS TEST" SHALL MEAN THE COMPETITIVE, OBJECTIVE AND
 SCHOLASTIC ACHIEVEMENT EXAMINATION REQUIRED FOR ADMISSION TO SPECIALIZED
 HIGH SCHOOLS PURSUANT TO SECTION TWENTY-FIVE HUNDRED  NINETY-G  OF  THIS
 ARTICLE  IN  EFFECT PRIOR TO THE THIRTY-FIRST OF MARCH, NINETEEN HUNDRED
 NINETY-SEVEN.
   § 2. Paragraph (b) of subdivision 1 of section 2590-h of the education
 law, as amended by chapter 345 of the laws of 2009, is amended  to  read
 as follows:
   (b) all specialized [senior] high schools.
   (I)  The  [special] SPECIALIZED high schools shall include the present
 schools known as:
   (A) The Bronx High School of Science, Stuyvesant High School, Brooklyn
 Technical High School, Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School  of  Music  and
 the Arts in the borough of Manhattan, BROOKLYN LATIN SCHOOL, HIGH SCHOOL
 FOR MATH, SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING AT CITY COLLEGE, HIGH SCHOOL FOR AMER-
 ICAN  STUDIES AT LEHMAN COLLEGE, QUEENS HIGH SCHOOL FOR SCIENCES AT YORK
 COLLEGE, AND STATEN ISLAND TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL; and
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.

                                                            LBD07664-02-1

 S. 4015                             2
 
   (B) such further schools which the city board may designate from  time
 to  time. The special schools shall be permitted to maintain a discovery
 program in accordance with the law in effect on the date  preceding  the
 effective  date of this section; admissions to the special schools shall
 be  conducted in accordance with the law in effect on the date preceding
 the effective date of this section;
   (II)  THE  CHANCELLOR  SHALL  ESTABLISH  PROCEDURES  TO  ENSURE  THAT,
 COMMENCING  IN  THE  TWO  THOUSAND TWENTY-TWO--TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-THREE
 ACADEMIC YEAR AND FOR EACH ACADEMIC YEAR THEREAFTER,  ALL  EIGHTH  GRADE
 PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS TAKE THE SPECIALIZED HIGH SCHOOL ADMISSIONS TEST,
 PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT:
   (A)  THE  SPECIALIZED  HIGH  SCHOOL ADMISSIONS TEST TAKES PLACE DURING
 REGULAR SCHOOL HOURS AND SHALL BE GIVEN NO LATER THAN  THE  THIRTY-FIRST
 OF OCTOBER OF EACH ACADEMIC YEAR; AND
   (B)  THE PROCEDURES SHALL PERMIT THE PARENT OR GUARDIAN OF AN ELIGIBLE
 STUDENT TO OPT SUCH STUDENT OUT OF THE SPECIALIZED  HIGH  SCHOOL  ADMIS-
 SIONS TEST, AT THE PARENT OR GUARDIAN'S DISCRETION FOR ANY REASON.
   (III) NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER PROVISION OF LAW, THE CHANCELLOR SHALL
 UNDERTAKE  A  PERIODIC  STUDY  OF THE SPECIALIZED HIGH SCHOOL ADMISSIONS
 TEST.
   (A) THE PERIODIC STUDY SHALL EVALUATE:
   (1) THE SPECIALIZED HIGH SCHOOL ADMISSIONS TEST'S PREDICTIVE  VALIDITY
 CONCERNING STUDENTS' PERFORMANCE AT SPECIALIZED HIGH SCHOOLS; AND
   (2)  WHETHER  QUESTIONS ON THE SPECIALIZED HIGH SCHOOL ADMISSIONS TEST
 EVIDENCE BIAS ON THE BASIS OF SEX,  GENDER,  RACE,  RELIGION  OR  CREED,
 NATIONAL ORIGIN OR ANCESTRY, OR INCOME.
   (B) SUCH STUDY SHALL BE CONDUCTED BY A QUALIFIED THIRD PARTY AND OCCUR
 ON A SCHEDULE TO BE DETERMINED BY THE CHANCELLOR, BUT NO LESS THAN EVERY
 FOUR  YEARS.  THE  FIRST  STUDY  PURSUANT  TO THIS SUBPARAGRAPH SHALL BE
 COMPLETED AND THE RESULTS PUBLISHED  PURSUANT  TO  CLAUSE  (C)  OF  THIS
 SUBPARAGRAPH  NO  LATER THAN THE FIFTEENTH OF JULY, TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-
 THREE.
   (C) THE RESULTS OF EACH SUCH STUDY SHALL  BE  PUBLISHED  ON  THE  CITY
 BOARD'S OFFICIAL INTERNET WEBSITE NO LATER THAN ONE MONTH AFTER THEY ARE
 RECEIVED  BY THE CHANCELLOR. A COPY OF THE STUDY SHALL BE FILED WITH THE
 CITY BOARD AND MADE AVAILABLE TO PARENT GROUPS, COMMUNITY BOARDS, COMMU-
 NITY SUPERINTENDENTS, AND SCHOOL-BASED  MANAGEMENT  TEAMS  IN  A  MANNER
 DETERMINED BY THE CHANCELLOR.
   (D)  THE  SCORE OF ANY SPECIALIZED HIGH SCHOOL ADMISSIONS TEST SUBJECT
 SHALL NOT BE RELEASED OR DISCLOSED BY THE TEST  AGENCY  TO  ANY  PERSON,
 ORGANIZATION,  CORPORATION, ASSOCIATION, COLLEGE, UNIVERSITY, OR GOVERN-
 MENTAL AGENCY OR  SUBDIVISION  UNLESS  SPECIFICALLY  AUTHORIZED  BY  THE
 SPECIALIZED  HIGH  SCHOOL  ADMISSIONS TEST SUBJECT. THE TEST AGENCY MAY,
 HOWEVER, RELEASE ALL SCORES RECEIVED BY A SPECIALIZED HIGH SCHOOL ADMIS-
 SIONS TEST SUBJECT ON A TEST TO ANYONE  DESIGNATED  BY  THE  SPECIALIZED
 HIGH  SCHOOL  ADMISSIONS TEST SUBJECT TO RECEIVE THE CURRENT SCORE. THIS
 SECTION SHALL NOT BE CONSTRUED TO PROHIBIT THE  RELEASE  OF  SCORES  AND
 OTHER  INFORMATION  IN  THE  POSSESSION OF A TEST AGENCY FOR PURPOSES OF
 RESEARCH LEADING TO STUDIES AND REPORTS CONCERNING THE TESTS THEMSELVES.
 SUCH STUDIES AND REPORTS SHALL CONTAIN NO INFORMATION IDENTIFIABLE  WITH
 ANY  INDIVIDUAL  SPECIALIZED HIGH SCHOOL ADMISSIONS TEST SUBJECT OR USER
 INSTITUTION UNLESS AUTHORIZED BY SUCH INDIVIDUAL OR INSTITUTION.
   (IV) THE CHANCELLOR SHALL ESTABLISH  PROCEDURES  TO  PROVIDE  FOR  THE
 PUBLIC  RELEASE  OF  THE  RESULTS  OF  ANY BIAS AND SENSITIVITY ANALYSES
 CONDUCTED AS PART OF THE SPECIALIZED HIGH SCHOOL ADMISSIONS TEST.

 S. 4015                             3
 
   § 3. Subdivision 2 of section 2590-h of the education law, as  amended
 by chapter 345 of the laws of 2009, is amended to read as follows:
   2. Establish, control and operate new schools or programs of the types
 specified in subdivision one of this section, or to discontinue any such
 schools and programs as he or she may determine; provided, however, that
 the chancellor shall:
   (A)  consult  with  the  affected community district education council
 before:
   [(a)] (I) substantially expanding or reducing such an existing  school
 or program within a community district;
   [(b)] (II) initially utilizing a community district school or facility
 for such a school or program; AND
   [(c)] (III) instituting any new program within a community district.
   (B)  ESTABLISH  BY  THE TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-FOUR--TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-
 FIVE ACADEMIC YEAR AT LEAST TEN SPECIALIZED HIGH SCHOOLS, IN  ACCORDANCE
 WITH  THE CHANCELLOR'S REGULATIONS ON SPECIALIZED HIGH SCHOOLS, IN ADDI-
 TION TO THOSE SPECIALIZED HIGH  SCHOOLS  IDENTIFIED  IN  CLAUSE  (A)  OF
 SUBPARAGRAPH  (I)  OF  PARAGRAPH (B) OF SUBDIVISION ONE OF THIS SECTION,
 PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT THE MAJORITY OF  THE  SPECIALIZED  HIGH  SCHOOLS
 ESTABLISHED  PURSUANT TO THIS PARAGRAPH ARE LOCATED IN AREAS THAT ARE AT
 LEAST TWO MILES AWAY FROM ANY  SPECIALIZED  HIGH  SCHOOL  IDENTIFIED  IN
 CLAUSE  (A)  OF  SUBPARAGRAPH (I) OF PARAGRAPH (B) OF SUBDIVISION ONE OF
 THIS SECTION.
   (C) ESTABLISH BY THE TWO  THOUSAND  TWENTY-TWO--TWO  THOUSAND  TWENTY-
 THREE ACADEMIC YEAR A TEST PREPARATION PROGRAM AVAILABLE, AT NO COST, TO
 ALL PUBLIC-SCHOOL STUDENTS IN THE SIXTH AND SEVENTH GRADES IN CONNECTION
 WITH  THE SPECIALIZED HIGH SCHOOL ADMISSIONS TEST. THIS PROGRAM SHALL BE
 OPTIONAL FOR SIXTH AND SEVENTH-GRADE STUDENTS.
   (I) THE TEST PREPARATION PROGRAM CLASSES SHALL BE SCHEDULED OUTSIDE OF
 THE REGULAR OPERATING HOURS OF THE SCHOOL DAY AND INCLUDE CLASS SESSIONS
 MEETING ON SATURDAYS DURING THE SCHOOL  YEAR  AND  WEEKDAYS  DURING  THE
 SUMMER FOR STUDENTS COMPLETING SIXTH AND SEVENTH GRADE.
   (II)  TRANSPORTATION  AND MEALS SHALL BE PROVIDED TO ALL PUBLIC SCHOOL
 STUDENTS WHO ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THIS PROGRAM AT NO COST.
   (III) THE CHANCELLOR SHALL ESTABLISH PROCEDURES FOR  NOTIFYING  PUBLIC
 SCHOOL  STUDENTS AND PARENTS OR GUARDIANS ABOUT THE AVAILABILITY OF SUCH
 TEST PREPARATION PROGRAM AT LEAST TWICE DURING  EACH  OF  THE  STUDENTS'
 FIFTH AND SIXTH GRADE YEARS, AT EACH PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCE OCCURRING
 DURING  THOSE  SCHOOL  YEARS, AND THROUGH OTHER METHODS OF COMMUNICATION
 DEEMED APPROPRIATE BY THE CHANCELLOR.
   (D) PREPARE AND RELEASE A  TEST  PREPARATION  GUIDE,  WHICH  SHALL  BE
 DISTRIBUTED  AT  NO  COST TO ALL PUBLIC SCHOOL SEVENTH GRADE STUDENTS ON
 THE FIRST DAY OF EACH SCHOOL YEAR, THAT INCLUDES:
   (I) A BREAKDOWN OF THE TOPICS COVERED BY THE SPECIALIZED  HIGH  SCHOOL
 ADMISSIONS TEST;
   (II)  ACTUAL  QUESTIONS  USED  ON THE PREVIOUS YEAR'S SPECIALIZED HIGH
 SCHOOL ADMISSIONS TEST; AND
   (III) ANY OTHER INFORMATION THE CHANCELLOR DETERMINES WOULD BE  APPRO-
 PRIATE  TO  PROVIDE  TO ASSIST STUDENTS IN PREPARING FOR THE SPECIALIZED
 HIGH SCHOOL ADMISSIONS TEST.
   (E) ESTABLISH  AN  OUTREACH  PROGRAM  TO  RAISE  AWARENESS  ABOUT  THE
 SPECIALIZED  HIGH  SCHOOL  ADMISSIONS TEST, THE TEST PREPARATION PROGRAM
 ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPH (C) OF THIS SUBDIVISION, AND THE  TEST
 PREPARATION  GUIDE  DEVELOPED PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPH (D) OF THIS SUBDIVI-
 SION, WHICH COLLECTIVELY SHALL BE DEFINED FOR PURPOSES OF  THIS  SECTION
 AS  THE SPECIALIZED HIGH SCHOOL ADMISSIONS TEST OFFERINGS. SUCH OUTREACH

 S. 4015                             4
 
 PROGRAM SHALL PRIORITIZE ENGAGEMENT WITH ELIGIBLE STUDENTS, PARENTS  AND
 GUARDIANS  IN  COMMUNITY  DISTRICTS WITH LOW RATES OF PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL
 STUDENTS ATTENDING SPECIALIZED HIGH SCHOOLS  AND  INCLUDE,  BUT  NOT  BE
 LIMITED TO:
   (I) A DEDICATED OUTREACH STAFF THAT ENGAGES ELIGIBLE STUDENTS, PARENTS
 AND  GUARDIANS  AT  MIDDLE  SCHOOLS AND APPROPRIATE COMMUNITY VENUES AND
 EVENTS REGARDING THE SPECIALIZED HIGH SCHOOL ADMISSIONS TEST OFFERINGS;
   (II) ADVERTISEMENTS, INCLUDING WITHIN MASS TRANSIT LOCATIONS;
   (III) A DIRECT TELEPHONE  OUTREACH  CAMPAIGN  FOR  ELIGIBLE  STUDENTS,
 PARENTS  AND  GUARDIANS TO RECEIVE AND SOLICIT INFORMATION REGARDING THE
 SPECIALIZED HIGH SCHOOL ADMISSIONS TEST OFFERINGS;
   (IV) DEDICATED MIDDLE SCHOOL SPECIALISTS ON STAFF AT THE 311  CUSTOMER
 SERVICE CENTER, AS DEFINED IN CHAPTER THREE OF TITLE TWENTY-THREE OF THE
 ADMINISTRATIVE  CODE  OF  THE  CITY  OF NEW YORK, FOR ELIGIBLE STUDENTS,
 PARENTS AND GUARDIANS WHO SOLICIT INFORMATION REGARDING THE  SPECIALIZED
 HIGH SCHOOL ADMISSIONS TEST OFFERINGS; AND
   (V) PARTNERSHIPS WITH COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS, THE NEW YORK CITY
 HOUSING  AUTHORITY, THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF IMMIGRANT AFFAIRS, AND THE NEW
 YORK CITY DEPARTMENT OF HOMELESS  SERVICES  TO  FACILITATE  OUTREACH  TO
 ELIGIBLE  STUDENTS, PARENTS AND GUARDIANS REGARDING THE SPECIALIZED HIGH
 SCHOOL ADMISSIONS TEST OFFERINGS.
   § 4. The administrative code of the city of New  York  is  amended  by
 adding a new section 21-974.1 to read as follows:
   § 21-974.1 GIFTED  AND TALENTED PROGRAMS AND CLASSES.  NOTWITHSTANDING
 ANY OTHER PROVISION OF LAW, RULE, REGULATION OR LOCAL LAW TO THE CONTRA-
 RY, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL DIRECT:
   A. EACH SCHOOL DISTRICT TO ESTABLISH BY THE TWO THOUSAND  TWENTY-TWO--
 TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-THREE ACADEMIC YEAR AT LEAST ONE DISTRICT GIFTED AND
 TALENTED  PROGRAM  FOR  KINDERGARTEN  THROUGH  FIFTH GRADE PUBLIC SCHOOL
 STUDENTS IN ACCORDANCE WITH  EXISTING  GIFTED  AND  TALENTED  ADMISSIONS
 STANDARDS AND PROCESSES.
   B.  EACH  SCHOOL  DISTRICT  SHALL  REGISTER ALL ELIGIBLE PUBLIC SCHOOL
 STUDENTS NOT CURRENTLY ENROLLED IN GIFTED AND TALENTED PROGRAMS TO  TAKE
 THE  GIFTED  AND  TALENTED ADMISSIONS EXAMINATION AS OF THE TWO THOUSAND
 TWENTY-TWO--TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-THREE ACADEMIC YEAR. A PARENT OR GUARDI-
 AN MAY OPT-OUT OF THE GIFTED  AND  TALENTED  ADMISSIONS  EXAMINATION  ON
 BEHALF OF SUCH STUDENT.
   § 5. 1. No later than thirty days following the effective date of this
 act,  there  shall be established a commission on middle school achieve-
 ment (hereinafter referred to as the "commission") to provide  guidance,
 advice,  and make recommendations to the chancellor of the city district
 on matters pertaining to education policy, performance and innovation in
 New York city middle schools.
   2. The members of the commission shall include, but not be limited to,
 representatives of  academic  institutions,  representatives  of  public
 employees,  and  stakeholders  with  experience in education policy. The
 commission, which shall include at least two residents of  each  borough
 of  New  York  city,  shall  be composed of fifteen members appointed as
 follows:
   (a) five members appointed by the governor;
   (b) five members appointed by the majority leader of the senate; and
   (c) five members appointed by the speaker of the assembly.
   3. No member of the commission shall be disqualified from holding  any
 public office or employment, nor shall he or she forfeit any such office
 or employment by virtue of his or her appointment hereunder. All members

 S. 4015                             5
 
 of  the  commission and its subcommittees shall serve at the pleasure of
 their respective appointing authority.
   4.  The  commission  shall select a chair, or co-chairs, by a majority
 vote of all members of the commission.
   5. A majority of the total members of the  commission  who  have  been
 appointed  shall  constitute  a  quorum,  and all recommendations of the
 commission shall require approval of a majority of  its  total  members.
 Any  subcommittee  shall  present  its  findings  to  the commission for
 approval.
   6. Every agency, department, office, division or public  authority  of
 the  state  and of New York city shall cooperate with the commission and
 furnish such information and assistance as the commission determines  is
 reasonably necessary to accomplish its purposes.
   7.  The  commission shall attempt to engage and solicit the additional
 input of a broad and diverse range of groups, organizations,  and  indi-
 viduals  who are not members of the commission, including, without limi-
 tation, members of school boards, superintendents, principals, teachers,
 parents and representatives of public sector employees, and may  request
 documents,  conduct public hearings, hear the testimony of witnesses and
 take any other actions it deems necessary to carry out its purposes.
   8. The commission shall comprehensively review  and  assess  New  York
 city's  middle schools, including their structure, operations, and proc-
 esses, to identify successful models and strategies that support student
 achievement and provide students with  a  high-quality  education.  Such
 review  shall  include, but not be limited to, evaluation of the follow-
 ing:
   (i) teacher recruitment  and  performance,  including  incentives  for
 teacher retention as well as the teacher preparation, certification, and
 evaluation systems utilized in city district middle schools;
   (ii)  factors  that  support student achievement from pre-kindergarten
 through middle school and prepare students for a  successful  transition
 to high school, including, but not limited to class size, student-teach-
 er  ratios,  and  availability  of supplemental individualized or small-
 group tutoring;
   (iii) parent and family engagement, including the impact of the school
 calendar,  school  schedule  and  district-level  policies  on  parental
 involvement in middle school;
   (iv)  unique issues faced by high-need urban middle schools, including
 identification of services that these  districts  might  require  to  be
 successful;
   (v)  past  failures  to improve performance at under-performing middle
 schools; and
   (vi) whether the overall structure of New York city's middle and  high
 school system meets students' needs.
   9.  In  carrying  out its responsibilities, the commission shall study
 national and international public education models  and  best  practices
 for the education of middle school-age children and make recommendations
 regarding ways to increase educational productivity and student perform-
 ance in New York city middle schools.
   10.  The  commission shall make final recommendations to the governor,
 the state legislature, and the chancellor no later than the thirty-first
 of December, two thousand twenty-one.
   § 6. This act shall take effect immediately, provided, however, that:
   (a) the amendments to paragraph (b) of subdivision 1 and subdivision 2
 of section 2590-h of the education law made by sections two and three of

 S. 4015                             6
 
 this act shall not affect the expiration of such section and subdivision
 and shall be deemed to expire therewith; and
   (b)  section  five  of  this  act  shall expire and be deemed repealed
 December 31, 2021.

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Senate Bill S4015

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