S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
4449
2011-2012 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
February 3, 2011
___________
Introduced by M. of A. BRENNAN -- read once and referred to the Commit-
tee on Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to establishing a parent
participation board and an office of education ombudsperson for each
community school district in the city school district of the city of
New York, and directing each borough president of the city of New York
to establish a parent academy
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
1 Section 1. The education law is amended by adding three new sections
2 2590-cc, 2590-ee and 2590-v to read as follows:
3 S 2590-CC. PARENT PARTICIPATION BOARDS; COMPOSITION, POWERS AND
4 DUTIES. 1. THERE SHALL BE ESTABLISHED AND MAINTAINED A PARENT PARTIC-
5 IPATION BOARD WITHIN EACH COMMUNITY DISTRICT. EACH PARENT PARTICIPATION
6 BOARD SHALL BE COMPOSED OF FIFTY-ONE VOTING MEMBERS, EACH OF WHOM SHALL
7 SERVE A TERM OF TWO YEARS. SUCH MEMBERS SHALL BE APPOINTED AS FOLLOWS:
8 (A) SEVENTEEN MEMBERS SHALL BE APPOINTED BY THE BOROUGH PRESIDENT OF
9 THE BOROUGH IN WHICH THE COMMUNITY DISTRICT IS LOCATED;
10 (B) SEVENTEEN MEMBERS SHALL BE APPOINTED BY A MAJORITY VOTE OF THE
11 CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK; AND
12 (C) SEVENTEEN MEMBERS SHALL BE APPOINTED BY A MAJORITY VOTE OF EACH
13 HOUSE OF THE LEGISLATURE.
14 2. OF THE MEMBERS APPOINTED TO A PARENT PARTICIPATION BOARD:
15 (A) NOT LESS THAN ONE MEMBER SHALL BE THE PARENT OF AN ENGLISH
16 LANGUAGE LEARNER ATTENDING A SCHOOL IN THE COMMUNITY DISTRICT;
17 (B) NOT LESS THAN ONE MEMBER SHALL BE THE PARENT OF A STUDENT RECEIV-
18 ING SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES IN A SCHOOL IN THE COMMUNITY DISTRICT;
19 (C) NOT LESS THAN ONE MEMBER SHALL BE OR HAVE BEEN A GRADUATING SENIOR
20 FROM A HIGH SCHOOL IN THE COMMUNITY DISTRICT DURING HIS OR HER TERM OF
21 OFFICE;
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07730-01-1
A. 4449 2
1 (D) NOT LESS THAN ONE MEMBER SHALL BE THE PARENT OF A STUDENT ATTEND-
2 ING A CHARTER SCHOOL IN THE COMMUNITY DISTRICT;
3 (E) NOT LESS THAN ONE MEMBER SHALL BE A TEACHER AT A SCHOOL IN THE
4 COMMUNITY DISTRICT, WHO IS A MEMBER OF THE UNITED FEDERATION OF TEACH-
5 ERS;
6 (F) NOT LESS THAN ONE MEMBER SHALL BE AN EMPLOYEE OF A SCHOOL IN THE
7 COMMUNITY DISTRICT, WHO IS A MEMBER OF DISTRICT COUNCIL 37; AND
8 (G) NOT LESS THAN ONE MEMBER SHALL BE A MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL OF
9 SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS FOR THE COMMUNITY DISTRICT.
10 3. VACANCIES IN THE MEMBERSHIP OF A PARENT PARTICIPATION BOARD SHALL
11 BE FILLED IN THE MANNER PROVIDED FOR ORIGINAL APPOINTMENTS. THE MEMBERS
12 OF A PARENT PARTICIPATION BOARD MAY BE REAPPOINTED, PROVIDED THAT NO
13 MEMBER SHALL SERVE AS A MEMBER FOR MORE THAN EIGHT YEARS.
14 4. EVERY MEMBER OF A PARENT PARTICIPATION BOARD SHALL BE A RESIDENT OF
15 THE CITY OF NEW YORK, AND BE A RESIDENT OF, BE EMPLOYED IN OR HAVE A
16 CHILD ATTENDING A SCHOOL IN THE COMMUNITY DISTRICT. NO SUCH MEMBER SHALL
17 BE EMPLOYED BY A BOROUGH PRESIDENT, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEW
18 YORK OR THE STATE LEGISLATURE. EVERY MEMBER SHALL BE SUBJECT TO AND
19 SHALL COMPLY WITH ALL STATE AND CITY OF NEW YORK CONFLICT OF INTEREST
20 LAWS.
21 5. A MAJORITY OF THE DULY APPOINTED MEMBERS OF A PARENT PARTICIPATION
22 BOARD SHALL CONSTITUTE A QUORUM AND NOT LESS THAN A MAJORITY OF SUCH
23 MEMBERS CONCURRING MAY TRANSACT ANY BUSINESS OR PERFORM ANY DUTY OR
24 EXERCISE ANY POWER OF SUCH BOARD.
25 6. EACH PARENT PARTICIPATION BOARD SHALL ESTABLISH ITS OWN EXECUTIVE
26 BOARD WHICH SHALL BE COMPOSED OF THE FOLLOWING OFFICES ELECTED FROM THE
27 MEMBERSHIP OF SUCH BOARD:
28 (A) PRESIDENT;
29 (B) VICE-PRESIDENT;
30 (C) TREASURER;
31 (D) SECRETARY; AND
32 (E) ASSISTANT SECRETARY.
33 7. (A) EVERY PARENT PARTICIPATION BOARD SHALL ESTABLISH THE FOLLOWING
34 COMMITTEES:
35 (1) BUDGET AND FINANCE;
36 (2) SCHOOL CITING AND FACILITIES USAGE;
37 (3) SCHOOL SAFETY AND STUDENT ATTENDANCE;
38 (4) CURRICULUM AND TESTING;
39 (5) AFTER-SCHOOL AND GIFTED PROGRAMS;
40 (6) UNIVERSAL PRE-KINDERGARTEN AND EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION;
41 (7) SPECIAL EDUCATION; AND
42 (8) BILINGUAL EDUCATION.
43 (B) THE CHAIRPERSON OF EACH COMMITTEE SHALL BE APPOINTED BY THE PRESI-
44 DENT OF THE PARENT PARTICIPATION BOARD, WITH THE ADVICE AND CONSENT OF
45 THE EXECUTIVE BOARD; PROVIDED, THAT THE FOLLOWING COMMITTEES SHALL HAVE
46 THE FOLLOWING CO-CHAIRPERSONS:
47 (1) SPECIAL EDUCATION COMMITTEE: A MEMBER OF THE BOROUGH SPECIAL
48 EDUCATION COUNCIL APPOINTED BY THE BOROUGH PRESIDENT; AND
49 (2) BILINGUAL COMMITTEE: A MEMBER OF THE BOROUGH ENGLISH LANGUAGE
50 LEARNERS TASK FORCE APPOINTED BY THE BOROUGH PRESIDENT.
51 8. EVERY PARENT PARTICIPATION BOARD SHALL HAVE THE POWER AND DUTY TO:
52 (A) ESTABLISH ITS PROCEDURES AND BY-LAWS;
53 (B) PROVIDE ACCESS, ASSISTANCE AND ADVICE TO THE CHANCELLOR, CITY
54 DISTRICT AND DEPARTMENT ON ALL EDUCATION AND BUDGET ISSUES IN THE COMMU-
55 NITY DISTRICT;
A. 4449 3
1 (C) ESTABLISH FORMAL PROCESSES FOR REVIEW AND INPUT ON MATTERS OF
2 IMPORTANCE TO STUDENTS, PARENTS, TEACHERS AND THE COMMUNITY DISTRICT;
3 (D) ESTABLISH A FORMAL SCHOOL CITING PARENTAL REVIEW PROCEDURE FOR THE
4 REVIEW OF SCHOOL CITING, SELECTION, RESTRUCTURING, EXPANSION AND RECON-
5 FIGURATION BY CONVENING PUBLIC HEARINGS, SOLICITING INPUT FROM PARENTS,
6 TEACHERS AND THE COMMUNITY, AND ISSUING FORMAL RECOMMENDATIONS;
7 (E) CONDUCT AN ANNUAL REVIEW OF AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE FIVE-
8 YEAR CAPITAL PLAN AND COMMUNITY DISTRICT OPERATING COSTS;
9 (F) PREPARE THE COMMUNITY DISTRICT REPORT CARD FOCUSING ON TEST
10 SCORES, ATTENDANCE, PUPIL TO TEACHER RATIO, GRADUATION RATE AND DROP OUT
11 RATE;
12 (G) ENGAGE AND CONSULT WITH COMMUNITY BASED ENTITIES INCLUDING COMMU-
13 NITY PLANNING BOARDS, PRECINCT COMMUNITY COUNCILS, PARENT ASSOCIATIONS,
14 PARENT AND TEACHER ASSOCIATIONS, AND SCHOOL LEADERSHIP TEAMS. PROVIDED
15 THAT THE PRESIDENT, OR HIS OR HER DESIGNEE, SHALL ATTEND AND REPORT UPON
16 EACH MEETING OF THE COMMUNITY PLANNING BOARD AND THE PRECINCT COMMUNITY
17 COUNCIL;
18 (H) REVIEW AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS ON ALL POLICY ISSUES BEFORE THE
19 PANEL FOR EDUCATION POLICY; AND
20 (I) PROVIDE FOR THE TERMINATION AND REMOVAL OF ANY MEMBER WHO FAILS TO
21 MEET THE QUALIFICATIONS OF MEMBERSHIP, OR FAILS TO FULFILL HIS OR HER
22 DUTIES BY NOT ENGAGING IN REGULAR ATTENDANCE AT AND PARTICIPATION IN
23 BOARD MEETINGS AND HEARINGS.
24 9. THE CHANCELLOR OR A MEMBER OF HIS OR HER OFFICE SHALL ANNUALLY
25 ATTEND NOT LESS THAN ONE MEETING OF EACH PARENT PARTICIPATION BOARD IN
26 THE CITY DISTRICT. THE COMMUNITY DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT SHALL ATTEND
27 EVERY MEETING OF THE PARENT PARTICIPATION BOARD.
28 S 2590-EE. OFFICE OF EDUCATION OMBUDSPERSON. 1. EACH PARENT PARTIC-
29 IPATION BOARD SHALL ESTABLISH AN OFFICE OF EDUCATION OMBUDSPERSON FOR
30 THE COMMUNITY DISTRICT.
31 2. THE OFFICE OF EDUCATION OMBUDSPERSON SHALL PROVIDE SUPPORT TO AND
32 OPERATE THE OFFICES OF THE PARENT PARTICIPATION BOARD. SUCH OFFICES'
33 DUTIES SHALL INCLUDE PARENTAL SERVICES, SUPERVISION OF STAFF, RECORD
34 KEEPING, MAINTAINING PARENT PARTICIPATION BOARD MEETINGS, PUBLIC NOTIFI-
35 CATION OF PARENT PARTICIPATION BOARD MEETINGS AND HEARINGS, AND FORMAL
36 COMMUNICATIONS WITH CITY OF NEW YORK AND STATE AGENCIES AND OFFICIALS.
37 3. SUCH OFFICE SHALL ACCEPT APPLICATIONS FOR MEMBERSHIP ON THE PARENT
38 PARTICIPATION BOARD, AND ENSURE THAT APPLICANTS AND MEMBERS MEET THE
39 QUALIFICATIONS FOR MEMBERSHIP THEREON PURSUANT TO SECTION TWENTY-FIVE
40 HUNDRED NINETY-CC OF THIS ARTICLE.
41 4. EVERY MEMBER OF A PARENT PARTICIPATION BOARD SHALL IMMEDIATELY
42 NOTIFY THE APPROPRIATE OFFICE OF EDUCATION OMBUDSPERSON OF ANY CHANGE
43 WHICH DISQUALIFIES SUCH MEMBER FROM MEMBERSHIP ON SUCH BOARD, AND SUCH
44 OFFICE SHALL NOTIFY THE APPOINTING OFFICER OR ENTITY OF SUCH MEMBER OF
45 HIS OR HER DISQUALIFICATION.
46 S 2590-V. PARENT ACADEMY. EVERY BOROUGH PRESIDENT IN THE CITY OF NEW
47 YORK SHALL ESTABLISH AND MAINTAIN A PARENT ACADEMY FOR HIS OR HER
48 BOROUGH. EACH PARENT ACADEMY SHALL PROVIDE TRAINING FOR ALL MEMBERS OF
49 THE PARENT PARTICIPATION BOARDS WITHIN THE BOROUGH; AND PROVIDE TRAINING
50 TO PARENTS OF CHILDREN ATTENDING SCHOOLS IN THE BOROUGH IN SKILLS BUILD-
51 ING, LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, EDUCATION POLICY, AND BUDGET AND FINANCE.
52 EACH ACADEMY SHALL ALSO PROVIDE PARENTS TO INTERACT TO LEARN HOW TO
53 ASSIST THEIR CHILDREN TO SUCCEED IN SCHOOL AND AFTER GRADUATION. THE
54 PARENT ACADEMIES SHALL BE TAILORED TO THE DIVERSE COMMUNITIES WITHIN THE
55 BOROUGH IN WHICH IT IS LOCATED IN ORDER TO FACILITATE THE MAXIMUM
56 INVOLVEMENT OF PARENTS IN THE BOROUGH.
A. 4449 4
1 S 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after
2 it shall have become a law; provided, that effective immediately any
3 actions necessary to implement the provisions of this act on its effec-
4 tive date are authorized and directed to be completed on or before such
5 date.