Relates to admission of institutions of higher education for pupils receiving home instruction; prohibits the commissioner from requiring pupils who have completed the requirements of a home school education or a non-public school program to obtain or submit proof of having obtained a general education development certificate or any accredited diploma.

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S2506-2013 Actions

• Jan 18, 2013: REFERRED TO EDUCATION

S2506-2013 Memo

BILL NUMBER:S2506

TITLE OF BILL:  An act to amend the education law, in relation to
admission into institutions of higher education for pupils receiving
home instruction

PURPOSE:  Relates to admission to institutions of higher education for
pupils receiving a home school education or a non-public school
Program.

SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:  This bill amends the education law by adding a
new section 312-a which establishes fair practices for home school
applicants.

JUSTIFICATION:  Home schooling restrictions in New York State create
many difficulties for those home schooling parents and their students
who wish to advance to institutions of higher education. In effect,
these restrictions undermine the validity of home schooling and serve
to discrimination against a legitimate educational choice. While there
are other measures which attempt to simplify New York State home
schooling regulations in order to reduce home schooling administrative
burdens, this bill establishes fair practices for those home schooled
applicants who seek admittance into institutions of higher education.

Recently, a student at the Monroe County Community College -- who was
only a semester away from receiving his degree -- had his admission
revoked because he was home schooled for his high school education.
This bill would ensure that a situation like that would not happen
again, and at the same time it would strengthen the legitimacy of home
schooling.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:  2011 -2012 REFERRED TO EDUCATION

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS: None.

EFFECTIVE DATE:  This act shall take effect on the first of September
next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law.

S2506-2013 Text

                      S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
  ________________________________________________________________________

                                    2506

                         2013-2014 Regular Sessions

                              I N  SENATE

                              January 18, 2013
                                 ___________

  Introduced  by  Sen.  ROBACH -- 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 admission into  insti-
    tutions of higher education for pupils receiving home instruction

    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  312-a
  to read as follows:

    S 312-A. FAIR PRACTICES FOR HOME SCHOOL APPLICANTS. 1. THE COMMISSION-
  ER  SHALL  NOT  REQUIRE  A PUPIL WHO HAS COMPLETED THE REQUIREMENTS OF A
  HOME INSTRUCTION EDUCATION OR A NON-PUBLIC SCHOOL PROGRAM, AND  WHO  HAS
  SUBMITTED  TEST SCORES AND OTHER ADMISSIONS MATERIAL USED BY POST-SECON-
  DARY INSTITUTIONS THAT QUALIFY THE PUPIL FOR ADMISSION TO AN INSTITUTION
  OF HIGHER EDUCATION, TO OBTAIN OR SUBMIT  PROOF  OF  HAVING  OBTAINED  A
  GENERAL EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT CERTIFICATE OR ANY ACCREDITED DIPLOMA.
    2.  A  PUPIL  WHO HAS COMPLETED THE REQUIREMENTS OF A HOME INSTRUCTION
  EDUCATION OR NON-PUBLIC PROGRAM SHALL BE REQUIRED TO PRESENT A NOTARIZED
  TRANSCRIPT, WHICH DEMONSTRATES COMPLETION OF A HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION  IN
  A  HOME  INSTRUCTION  OR  NON-PUBLIC SCHOOL SETTING, FOR ADMISSION TO AN
  INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND SUCH TRANSCRIPT  SHALL  BE  ACCEPTED
  AND  THE  PUPIL  ADMITTED  ON  AN EQUAL BASIS WITH ALL OTHER APPLICANTS,
  REGARDLESS OF EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND.
    3. THE HOME INSTRUCTION OR NON-PUBLIC PROGRAM GRADUATE SHALL BE ELIGI-
  BLE TO RECEIVE THEIR EARNED POST-SECONDARY DEGREE OR DIPLOMA  WHEN  THEY
  HAVE  FULFILLED THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE POST-SECONDARY DEGREE OR PROGRAM
  REQUIREMENTS AND SUCH DEGREE CANNOT BE WITHHELD.
    4. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION "INSTITUTION OF HIGHER  EDUCATION"
  SHALL  MEAN  ANY INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION RECOGNIZED AND APPROVED
  BY THE REGENTS OR THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WHICH PROVIDES
  A COURSE OF STUDY LEADING TO THE GRANTING OF A POST-SECONDARY DEGREE  OR
  DIPLOMA.

   EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                        [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                             LBD07206-01-3

 S. 2506                             2

    S  2.  This  act  shall  take  effect  on  the first of September next
  succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law and shall  apply
  to  undergraduate admissions to an institution of higher education for a
  term or semester that begins on or after such date.