Requires the administration and the instruction in preparation of the GED examination in the Chinese and Korean languages for pupils who are proficient in these languages and of limited English proficiency.

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S91-2011 Actions

• Jan 4, 2012: REFERRED TO EDUCATION
• Jan 5, 2011: REFERRED TO EDUCATION

S91-2011 Memo

BILL NUMBER:S91

TITLE OF BILL:
An act
to amend the education law, in relation to requiring the administration
of the GED examination in the Chinese and Korean languages for pupils
who are proficient in such languages and of limited English proficiency

PURPOSE:
To allow students who are proficient in the Chinese or Korean language
and of limited English proficiency the option to receive instruction
in preparation for the GED examination and the administration of such
examination in the Chinese or Korean language.

SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
The Commissioner of Education shall require each board of education,
including the board of each community school district of the city of
New York, to make available to all pupils proficient in the Chinese
or Korean language, and of limited proficiency in English, the
official GED examination written in such native language, and make
available any instructional courses or programs for the preparation
of such examination.

JUSTIFICATION:
While learning to read, write and speak English is a common and worthy
goal of any student in the United States, test-taking may be
unnecessarily challenging for those who are still growing in their
use of the English language. This legislation provides the
opportunity for students to show their proficiency in subjects like
math, science, history and music while not being handicapped by their
still developing grasp of the English language. Currently the GED and
study materials for the GED are available in Spanish and French, and
as the Asian-American population is growing by leaps and bounds, it
would make sense to also make them available in Chinese and Korean.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2008: A.10763 (Young) - Education
2010: S.4107/A.475 (Kavanagh) - Education

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined.

LOCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined.

EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after it
shall have become a law.

S91-2011 Text

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

                                     91

                         2011-2012 Regular Sessions

                              I N  SENATE

                                 (PREFILED)

                               January 5, 2011
                                 ___________

  Introduced  by Sen. SQUADRON -- 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 requiring the adminis-
    tration of the GED examination in the Chinese and Korean languages for
    pupils who are proficient in such languages  and  of  limited  English
    proficiency

    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 3204-a
  to read as follows:

    S 3204-A. ADMINISTRATION OF THE GED EXAMINATION  IN  THE  CHINESE  AND
  KOREAN LANGUAGES. 1. STUDENTS WHO ARE PROFICIENT IN THE CHINESE OR KORE-
  AN  LANGUAGE  AND  OF  LIMITED  ENGLISH PROFICIENCY SHALL BE ENTITLED TO
  RECEIVE INSTRUCTION IN PREPARATION  FOR  THE  GED  EXAMINATION  AND  THE
  ADMINISTRATION OF SUCH EXAMINATION IN THE CHINESE OR KOREAN LANGUAGE.
    2.  THE  COMMISSIONER SHALL REQUIRE EACH BOARD OF EDUCATION, INCLUDING
  THE BOARD OF EACH COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT OF THE  CITY  OF  NEW  YORK,
  MAKE  AVAILABLE  TO  ALL  PUPILS  PROFICIENT  IN  THE  CHINESE OR KOREAN
  LANGUAGE, AND OF LIMITED PROFICIENCY IN ENGLISH, THE OFFICIAL GED  EXAM-
  INATION WRITTEN IN SUCH NATIVE LANGUAGE, AND MAKE AVAILABLE ANY INSTRUC-
  TIONAL  COURSES  OR  PROGRAMS  FOR  THE PREPARATION OF SUCH EXAMINATION,
  WHICH ARE OFFERED BY THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, INCLUDING COURSE MATERIALS, IN
  SUCH NATIVE LANGUAGE. THE COMMISSIONER SHALL  FURTHER  DIRECT  THAT  ANY
  NOTIFICATION OR CORRESPONDENCE RELATING TO THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE GED
  EXAMINATION SHALL BE WRITTEN IN THE CHINESE OR KOREAN LANGUAGE.
    3.  EACH  SCHOOL DISTRICT SHALL OBTAIN AND MAINTAIN A RECORD OF PUPILS
  WHO HAVE THE GED EXAMINATION  ADMINISTERED  IN  THE  CHINESE  OR  KOREAN
  LANGUAGE AND SHALL REPORT SUCH INFORMATION TO THE DEPARTMENT ON AN ANNU-
  AL BASIS.

   EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                        [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                             LBD00701-01-1

 S. 91                               2

    S  2. The commissioner of education is hereby authorized to promulgate
  any rules or regulations necessary for the implementation of  this  act,
  including,  but  not  limited  to,  rules  or  regulations directing the
  department to enter into a contract with the American Council on  Educa-
  tion to develop and provide appropriate testing materials.
    S 3. This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after
  it shall have become a law.