NY State Senate Bill 2023-S5960

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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	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Jan 03, 2024	referred to education
Mar 23, 2023	referred to education

co-Sponsors

2023-S5960 (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A547
Current Committee:: Senate Education
Law Section:: Education Law
Laws Affected:: Amd §305, Ed L
Versions Introduced in 2021-2022 Legislative Session:: A7083

2023-S5960 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Authorizes the commissioner of education to implement a purple star schools program to recognize schools and school districts which demonstrate a commitment to assisting military-connected students and their families.

2023-S5960 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S5960

SPONSOR: SCARCELLA-SPANTON
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the education law, in relation to authorizing the
commissioner of education to implement a purple star schools program

 
PURPOSE:

Authorizes the commissioner of education to establish a purple star
schools program.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 of the bill amends § 305 of the Education Law in relation to
the powers and duties of the commissioner by authorizing the commission-
er to establish a purple star schools program, which, upon application
of a school or school district, is a designation that shall be awarded
to a school who has:

(1) appointed a military liaison,

(2) created a website of resources for military-connected students,

(3) maintained a transition program for military-connected students,

(4) offer staff professional development on military-connected student
issues,

(5) monitored the academic progress of military-connected students,

(6) either

(a) passed a resolution in support of military-connected students,

(b) hosted an event in support of military-connected students or

(c) offered volunteer opportunities at the campus for military members.
A school or school district may partner with a third party to administer
these provisions. The commissioner may promulgate rules to design the
program.

Section 2 establishes the effective date.

 
EXISTING LAW:

All New York schools currently participate in the Military Interstate
Children's Compact, which provides technical assistance for active-duty
military-connected students on certain issues pertaining to placement,
records, immunizations and graduation but does not encompass the service
indicators set forth in this legislation.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

The Department of Defense recommends states help schools to make assess-
ments so that critical information is easily accessible to military
connected students, military families, school and school district facul-
ty and staff by creating a statewide Purple Star Schools program. Purple
Star Schools are military-friendly schools that have demonstrated a
major commitment to students and families connected to our nation's
military. Designated schools have met specific state designed require-
ments to support the unique situations facing military students and
their families.

As our military members and their families move from state to state,
providing for a smooth educational transition for their children is key
to eliminating one of the largest concerns the parents face. The clarity
and precision derived from New York communicating clear expectations and
responsibilities at the state level ensures standardization and creates
consistency as the program scales and families move more frequently
between Purple Star schools, even to and from other states.

As New York is already home to 26,777 active-duty service members,
10,145 active-duty spouses, 16,494 active-duty children, 40,851 National
Guard and reserve members, 16,695 National Guard and reserve spouses and
22,650 National Guard and reserve children, it has the benefit of being
able to draw upon existing expertise and engagement with existing stake-
holders.

Thirteen states have created statewide Purple Star School Programs. By
utilizing the best practices identified by the Department of Defense,
this legislation gives New York the potential to create a robust network
of local, state, and national stakeholders and cultivate competency in
the area of military-connected student transition, offering New York's
Purple Star Schools the opportunity to demonstrate their cultural fluen-
cy to parents and families.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2021-22 A7083 (Burdick) Referred to Education.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

At the state level, schools will need to apply for the designation.  The
commissioner will therefore need to establish the program, develop
guidelines, related forms and documents to administer the program.

Existing education department staff may need to provide professional
development to schools and school systems to raise awareness and explain
programmatic requirements on a part-time basis, as well as review appli-
cations to determine if schools meet the qualifications to achieve the
designation. There will also be a minimal annual cost for banners,
certificates or some form of recognition for a designated school, supply
costs which can be covered with existing resources. To the extent, a
school or schools wish to be recognized as a Purple Star School, there
may be no cost as they already meet the criterion to achieve the desig-
nation, or there may be operational changes required that could be
managed with existing resources.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.

2023-S5960 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   5960
 
                        2023-2024 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                              March 23, 2023
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by Sen. SCARCELLA-SPANTON -- 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  authorizing  the
   commissioner of education to implement a purple star schools program
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. Section 305 of the education law is amended by adding a new
 subdivision 60 to read as follows:
   60. THE COMMISSIONER SHALL ESTABLISH A "PURPLE STAR  SCHOOLS  PROGRAM"
 TO RECOGNIZE SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS WHICH DEMONSTRATE A COMMITMENT
 TO ASSISTING MILITARY-CONNECTED STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES.
   A.  THE COMMISSIONER, OR HIS OR HER DESIGNEE, SHALL DESIGNATE A SCHOOL
 AS A "PURPLE STAR  SCHOOL"  UPON  APPLICATION  OF  A  SCHOOL  OR  SCHOOL
 DISTRICT WHICH:
   (I)  HAS  DESIGNATED A STAFF MEMBER AS A MILITARY LIAISON WHOSE DUTIES
 INCLUDE: (A) IDENTIFYING MILITARY-CONNECTED  STUDENTS  ENROLLED  IN  THE
 DISTRICT;  (B)  SERVING  AS  THE  POINT OF CONTACT BETWEEN THE SCHOOL OR
 SCHOOL DISTRICT AND SUCH STUDENTS; (C)  DETERMINING  APPROPRIATE  CAMPUS
 SERVICES  AVAILABLE TO MILITARY-CONNECTED STUDENTS; AND (D) ASSISTING IN
 COORDINATING CAMPUS PROGRAMS RELEVANT TO MILITARY-CONNECTED STUDENTS;
   (II) MAINTAINS ON ITS WEBSITE AN EASILY ACCESSIBLE PAGE THAT  INCLUDES
 RESOURCES  FOR MILITARY-CONNECTED STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES, INCLUDING
 INFORMATION REGARDING: (A) RELOCATION TO,  ENROLLMENT  AT,  REGISTRATION
 AT,  AND  TRANSFERRING  RECORDS  TO  THE  CAMPUS; (B) ACADEMIC PLANNING,
 COURSE SEQUENCES, AND ADVANCED CLASSES  AVAILABLE  AT  THE  CAMPUS;  (C)
 COUNSELING  AND  OTHER SUPPORT SERVICES AVAILABLE FOR MILITARY-CONNECTED
 STUDENTS ENROLLED AT THE CAMPUS; (D)  THE  MILITARY  LIAISON  DESIGNATED
 UNDER SUBPARAGRAPH (I) OF THIS PARAGRAPH, AND THE LIAISON'S DUTIES UNDER
 SUCH  SUBPARAGRAPH;  AND (E) THE STATE MILITARY FAMILY EDUCATION LIAISON
 DESIGNATED PURSUANT TO SECTION THIRTY-THREE HUNDRED EIGHT OF THIS  CHAP-
 TER;
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD01126-01-3

 S. 5960                             2
 
   (III)  MAINTAINS A TRANSITION PROGRAM LED BY STUDENTS, WHERE APPROPRI-
 ATE, THAT ASSISTS MILITARY-CONNECTED STUDENTS IN TRANSITIONING INTO  THE
 CAMPUS;
   (IV)  OFFERS  PROFESSIONAL  DEVELOPMENT  FOR  STAFF  MEMBERS ON ISSUES
 RELATED TO MILITARY-CONNECTED STUDENTS;
   (V) FOR PURPOSES OF MONITORING ACADEMIC PROGRESS OF MILITARY-CONNECTED
 STUDENTS, INCLUDES AN IDENTIFIER ON THE STUDENT RECORD  OF  A  MILITARY-
 CONNECTED  STUDENT  AND  INCLUDE  IN  THE  BASIC EDUCATIONAL DATA SYSTEM
 REPORTS (BEDS), THE NUMBER OF MILITARY-CONNECTED  STUDENTS  ENROLLED  IN
 SUCH SCHOOL OR SCHOOL DISTRICT; AND
   (VI)  THE  BOARD  OF EDUCATION OR OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY AUTHORIZED TO
 ACT ON BEHALF OF THE SCHOOL OR SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS EITHER: (A) ISSUED  A
 RESOLUTION,  PROCLAMATION,  OR  OTHER  OFFICIAL STATEMENT OF SUPPORT FOR
 MILITARY-CONNECTED STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES; OR (B) ISSUED  A  RESOL-
 UTION,  PROCLAMATION,  OR OTHER OFFICIAL STATEMENT RECOGNIZING THE MONTH
 OF APRIL AS THE "MONTH OF THE MILITARY CHILD" AND/OR THE MONTH OF NOVEM-
 BER AS "MILITARY FAMILY MONTH" AND HAS HOSTED EVENTS ON CAMPUS CELEBRAT-
 ING EITHER OR BOTH; OR (C) ENTERED INTO A PARTNERSHIP  WITH  A  MILITARY
 INSTALLATION,  NATIONAL  GUARD  ARMORY  OR  RESERVE CENTER THAT PROVIDES
 OPPORTUNITIES FOR MILITARY MEMBERS TO VOLUNTEER AT THE CAMPUS, SPEAK  AT
 AN ASSEMBLY, HOST A FIELD TRIP, OR PARTICIPATE IN SUCH OTHER EDUCATIONAL
 ACTIVITIES AS THE COMMISSIONER OR HIS OR HER DESIGNEE DEEM APPROPRIATE.
   B.  A  SCHOOL  OR  SCHOOL  DISTRICT  MAY PARTNER WITH A THIRD PARTY TO
 PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES AND INITIATIVES SPECIFIED UNDER  PARAGRAPH  A  OF
 THIS SUBDIVISION.
   C. THE COMMISSIONER MAY PROMULGATE RULES TO EFFECTUATE THE PURPOSES OF
 THIS SUBDIVISION.
   D.  AS  USED IN THIS SUBDIVISION, "MILITARY-CONNECTED STUDENT" MEANS A
 SCHOOL-AGED CHILD ENROLLED IN KINDERGARTEN THROUGH TWELFTH GRADE IN  THE
 HOUSEHOLD  OF  AN  ACTIVE  DUTY  MEMBER OF THE UNITED STATES MILITARY, A
 RESERVE FORCE OF THE UNITED STATES MILITARY, THE  ORGANIZED  MILITIA  OF
 THIS STATE OR ANY OTHER STATE.
   § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.

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Senate Bill S5960

Sponsored By

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Education Committee

co-Sponsors

2023-S5960 (ACTIVE) - Details

2023-S5960 (ACTIVE) - Summary

2023-S5960 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2023-S5960 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments

Senate Bill S5960

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Sponsored By

Jessica Scarcella-Spanton

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Education Committee

co-Sponsors

Jacob Ashby

John W. Mannion

2023-S5960 (ACTIVE) - Details

2023-S5960 (ACTIVE) - Summary

2023-S5960 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2023-S5960 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments