Co-sponsor(s):
Benjamin,
Bing,
Lavine,
Stirpe,
Maisel,
Skartados,
Jaffee,
Gibson,
Millman,
Colton
Law Section: Education Law
Law Section: Education Law
A8938 Summary
Directs the state education commissioner to conduct an audit and report on statewide compliance with state instructional regulations for arts education and to establish a remediation process for schools found to be out of compliance.A8938 Actions
A8938 - referred to education - Jun 16, 2009A8938 Memo
BILL NUMBER:A8938
TITLE OF BILL: An act to amend the education law, in relation to directing the commissioner of education to conduct an audit and report on statewide compliance with state instructional regulations for arts education and to establish a remediation process for schools found to be out of compliance
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF THE BILL: Directs the commissioner of education to conduct an audit and report on statewide compliance with state instructional regulations for arts education.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS: * The commissioner of the State Education Department is required to conduct a statewide audit of compliance for arts instruction. *The commissioner of the State Education Department is responsible for requiring that every non-compliant school develop a corrective action plan.
JUSTIFICATION: According to Part 100 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education, students are to receive instruction designed to facilitate the attainment of the State elementary learning standards in the arts, including dance, music, theater and visual arts. The instructional requirements track to the percentage of weekly school time allocated to the arts at the elementary level, units of study at the intermediate and commencement levels, and availability of three or five-unit sequences in the arts at the commencement level. Furthermore, it is recommended that instruction be provided by a licensed arts teacher. As there is no comprehensive accounting of arts instruction provided by the state's public schools, it is not clear if schools and districts are in compliance the state regulations. In New York City, where reporting on arts education offerings began after the 2006-2007 school year, data provided by the New York City Department of Education for the 2007-2008 school year revealed that only 8W of elementary schools were in a position to provide the minimum that is required by the State of New York by offering all four art forms in each grade. Additionally, less than half of New York City middle schools are ensuring that all students are completing the state requirements. This bill is an important step towards ensuring that the arts are a significant part of our youth's learning experience.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: New bill.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS: To be determined.
EFFECTIVE DATE: This act shall take effect immediately.
A8938 Text
S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K8938
2009-2010 Regular Sessions I N ASSEMBLY June 16, 2009
Introduced by M. of A. ENGLEBRIGHT -- read once and referred to the Committee on Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to directing the commis sioner of education to conduct an audit and report on statewide compliance with state instructional regulations for arts education and to establish a remediation process for schools found to be out of compliance
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 815 to read as follows:
S 815. THE COMMISSIONER SHALL BE AUTHORIZED AND REQUIRED TO CONDUCT A STATEWIDE AUDIT OF COMPLIANCE WITH STATE EDUCATION REGULATIONS FOR ARTS INSTRUCTION. THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OR TRUSTEES OF ALL SCHOOL DISTRICTS SHALL COMPLY WITH REQUESTS BY THE DEPARTMENT FOR SUCH INFORMATION DEEMED RELEVANT BY THE DEPARTMENT. SUCH ASSESSMENT SHALL BE CONDUCTED AND REPORTED TO THE LEGISLATURE AND THE PUBLIC BY JUNE, TWO THOUSAND TEN FOR THE TWO THOUSAND NINE--TWO THOUSAND TEN SCHOOL YEAR AND EVERY FIVE YEARS THEREAFTER.
S 2.
Section 805 of the education law is amended by adding a new subdivision 9 to read as follows:
9. IT SHALL BE THE DUTY OF THE COMMISSIONER TO REQUIRE THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OR TRUSTEES OF EACH SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT IS FOUND TO BE OUT OF COMPLIANCE WITH STATE INSTRUCTIONAL REGULATIONS FOR ARTS EDUCATION DEVELOP A CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN THAT DESCRIBES STEPS TO ENSURE COMPLI ANCE WITH STATE REQUIREMENTS WITH A TIMETABLE FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF STEPS WITHIN TWELVE MONTHS OF THE AUDIT. THE COMMISSIONER SHALL BE REQUIRED TO REVIEW AND APPROVE ALL ACTION PLANS AND FACILITATE THEIR IMPLEMENTATION AND MAKE AN ANNUAL REPORT TO THE LEGISLATURE AND THE PUBLIC ON PROGRESS AT THOSE SCHOOLS.
S 3. This act shall take effect immediately. EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD14238-01-9
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