NY State Senate Bill 2023-S4202

Senate Bill S4202

2023-2024 Legislative Session

Relates to the creation of a pre-specialized high schools admissions test and preparation program

download bill text pdf

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee 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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Actions

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	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Jan 03, 2024	referred to education
Feb 06, 2023	referred to education

2023-S4202 (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A3377
Current Committee:: Senate Education
Law Section:: Education Law
Laws Affected:: Amd §2590-h, Ed L
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:: 2017-2018: A10539
2019-2020: A3981
2021-2022: S6090, A2665

2023-S4202 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Creates a pre-specialized high schools admissions test and preparation program for all sixth grade students in New York city.

2023-S4202 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S4202

SPONSOR: SANDERS
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the education law, in relation to the creation of a
pre-specialized high schools admissions test and preparation program

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

To give students the opportunity to take a Pre-Specialized High School
Admissions Test (pre-SHSAT) in order to guide them as they prepare for
the Specialized High School Admissions Test (SHSAT).

 
SUMMARY OF MAIN PROVISIONS:

Section 1: adds a new subdivision 54 to section 2590-h of the education
law, to establish in conjunction with the New York City department of
education officials, a test preparation program for students in the
sixth grade culminating in a pre-specialized high schools admissions
test to be administered in May or June of each year.

Section 2: adds a new subdivision 39 to section 2590-h of the education
law, to establish in conjunction with the New York City department of
education officials, a test preparation program for students in the
sixth grade culminating in a pre-specialized high schools admissions
test to be administered in May or June of each year.

Section 3: is the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

The Calandra-Hecht bill enacted in the New York State Legislature in
1971 ensured that admittance to specialized high schools in New York
City was determined via a standardized test to minimize discrimination
and admit students based entirely on merit. However, over the years the
test has evolved to the point where many parents spend large sums of
money on special tutoring classes and test prep for their children, thus
creating a disadvantage for low-income students, predominantly those who
are black or Latino. Admittance of black and Latino students to special-
ized high schools has been on the decline since the 1990's.

One way to level the playing field for these students is to establish a
PreSHSAT, where students and families would receive an analysis of their
results to determine areas in need of improvement in advance of the
SHSAT given in eighth grade. This test will enable students, their
parents and the schools to concentrate on areas that need improvement at
a time when it is possible to do so. Too often, students and their
parents find out about the SHSAT too late to adequately prepare for the
rigors of the test. Knowing early enables students to participate in
test prep programs provided by the New York City Department of Educa-
tion, like the DREAM program.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2021-22 REFERRED TO SENATE EDUCATION

2021-22 referred to assembly education

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

To be determined.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
On the first of July next succeeding the date on which it shall have
become a law; provided the amendments to section 2590-h of the education
law, made by section one of this act, shall be subject to the expiration
and reversion of such section, pursuant to subdivision 12 of section 17
of chapter 345 of the laws of 2009, as amended, when upon such date the
provisions of section two of this act shall take effect. Effective imme-
diately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation
necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date are
authorized to be made and completed on or before such effective date.

2023-S4202 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   4202
 
                        2023-2024 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             February 6, 2023
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen. SANDERS -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Education
 
 AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation  to  the  creation  of  a
   pre-specialized high schools admissions test and preparation program
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. Section 2590-h of the education law is amended by adding  a
 new subdivision 57 to read as follows:
   57.  ESTABLISH,  IN  CONJUNCTION  WITH  THE  APPROPRIATE NEW YORK CITY
 DEPARTMENT OF  EDUCATION  OFFICIALS,  A  TEST  PREPARATION  PROGRAM  FOR
 STUDENTS  IN  THE  SIXTH  GRADE  CULMINATING  IN  A PRE-SPECIALIZED HIGH
 SCHOOLS ADMISSIONS TEST TO BE ADMINISTERED IN MAY OR JUNE OF EACH  YEAR.
 SUCH  TEST  PREPARATION  AND THE PRE-SPECIALIZED HIGH SCHOOLS ADMISSIONS
 TEST SHALL BE AVAILABLE TO ALL  SIXTH  GRADE  STUDENTS  FREE  OF  CHARGE
 DURING  THE  REGULAR  OPERATING  HOURS  OF THE SCHOOL DAY.   PARENTS MAY
 CHOOSE FOR THEIR STUDENT TO NOT  BE  A  PART  OF  THE  TEST  PREPARATION
 PROGRAM.  UPON  COMPLETION  OF THE PROGRAM, EACH STUDENT, THEIR PARENTS,
 AND THEIR SCHOOL SHALL RECEIVE A GAP ANALYSIS. SCHOOLS  SHALL  USE  EACH
 STUDENT'S  GAP  ANALYSIS TO TAILOR THE STUDENT'S INSTRUCTION TO MEET THE
 NEEDS OF THE STUDENT INCLUDING, BUT NOT  LIMITED  TO,  THE  USE  OF  THE
 SPECIALIZED HIGH SCHOOLS ADMISSIONS TEST INTENSIVE OR ANY OTHER NEW YORK
 CITY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION PROGRAM AVAILABLE.
   §  2.  Section  2590-h of the education law is amended by adding a new
 subdivision 39 to read as follows:
   39. ESTABLISH, IN CONJUNCTION  WITH  THE  APPROPRIATE  NEW  YORK  CITY
 DEPARTMENT  OF  EDUCATION  OFFICIALS,  A  TEST  PREPARATION  PROGRAM FOR
 STUDENTS IN THE  SIXTH  GRADE  CULMINATING  IN  A  PRE-SPECIALIZED  HIGH
 SCHOOLS  ADMISSIONS TEST TO BE ADMINISTERED IN MAY OR JUNE OF EACH YEAR.
 SUCH TEST PREPARATION AND THE PRE-SPECIALIZED  HIGH  SCHOOLS  ADMISSIONS
 TEST  SHALL  BE  AVAILABLE  TO  ALL  SIXTH GRADE STUDENTS FREE OF CHARGE
 DURING THE REGULAR OPERATING HOURS OF  THE  SCHOOL  DAY.    PARENTS  MAY
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD06953-01-3

 S. 4202                             2
 
 CHOOSE  FOR  THEIR  STUDENT  TO  NOT  BE  A PART OF THE TEST PREPARATION
 PROGRAM. UPON COMPLETION OF THE PROGRAM, EACH  STUDENT,  THEIR  PARENTS,
 AND  THEIR  SCHOOL  SHALL RECEIVE A GAP ANALYSIS. SCHOOLS SHALL USE EACH
 STUDENT'S  GAP  ANALYSIS TO TAILOR THE STUDENT'S INSTRUCTION TO MEET THE
 NEEDS OF THE STUDENT INCLUDING, BUT NOT  LIMITED  TO,  THE  USE  OF  THE
 SPECIALIZED HIGH SCHOOLS ADMISSIONS TEST INTENSIVE OR ANY OTHER NEW YORK
 CITY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION PROGRAM AVAILABLE.
   §  3.  This act shall take effect on the first of July next succeeding
 the date on which it shall have become a law; provided that  the  amend-
 ments  to  section  2590-h  of the education law, made by section one of
 this act, shall be subject to  the  expiration  and  reversion  of  such
 section,  pursuant to subdivision 12 of section 17 of chapter 345 of the
 laws of 2009, as amended, when upon such date the provisions of  section
 two  of this act shall take effect. Effective immediately, the addition,
 amendment and/or repeal of any rule  or  regulation  necessary  for  the
 implementation  of  this  act on its effective date are authorized to be
 made and completed on or before such effective date.

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