Requires minors under 18 years to attend school on a full-time basis, unless in vocational program; must enroll in GED course until 19

BILL NUMBER:A9758 REPLACEMENT 1/28/10

Title of bill

An act to amend the education law, in relation to attendance of minors at full-time day instruction

Purpose

The purpose of this bill is to increase New York States' compulsory education age to eighteen with mandatory G,E.D enrollment for one year or until passage of exam.

Summary of specific provision

Section 1. Section 3205 of the education law is amended to read as follows:

§3205.Attendance of minors upon full time day instruction. 1.a..In each school district of the state, each minor from six to [sixteen] EIGHTEEN years of age shall attend upon full time instruction, EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SUBDIVISION FOUR OF THIS SECTION. Each minor shall attend upon full time day instruction, EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SUBDIVISION FOUR OF THIS SECTION. 2. Exceptions: a. A minor who has completed a four-year high school course of study OR HAS PASSED A HIGH SCHOOL EQUIVALENCY EXAMINA- TION. Students enrolled in non-public schools or in home instruction. b. A MINOR SEVENTEEN YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER WHO PARTICIPATES, WITH THE CONSENT OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THE PERSON IN PARENTAL RELATION TO SUCH MINOR, IN A COURSE OF INSTRUCTION IN VOCATIONAL OR OCCUPATIONAL SKILLS SHALL NOT HE SUBJECT TO THE PROVISIONS OF THIS PART WITH RESPECT TO REQUIRED ATTENDANCE UPON INSTRUCTION. 3. In each school district, the board of education shall have power to requires minors [from sixteen to seventeen] EIGHTEEN years of age who are not employed to attend upon full time day instruction until the last day of session in the school year in which the student becomes (seventeen] EIGHTEEN years of age. 4. IN EACH SCHOOL DISTRICT OF THE STATE, EACH PERSON OVER THE AGE OF EIGH- TEEN YEARS AND UNDER THE AGE OF NINETEEN YEARS, WHO DOES NOT ATTEND UPON FULL-TIME INSTRUCTION, SHALL ENROLL AND PARTICIPATE IN A GENERAL EDUCA- TION DEVELOPMENT COURSE OF STUDY UNTIL HE OR SHE REACHES THE AGE OF NINETEEN YEARS, OR HE OR SHE PASSES THE HIGH SCHOOL EQUIVALENCY EXAMINA- TION FOR SUCH COURSE OF STUDY, WHICHEVER SHALL OCCUR FIRST.

Justification

Implementation of such policy will not only increase New York State's compulsory education age to age eighteen, but aims to implement simultaneous supplemental programs geared towards "at-risk" students, reducing class size, and providing alternative education. A GED program seeking to transition students into higher education oppor- tunities, in efforts to expand their long-term opportunities will be mandatory for those students who leave school with out meeting any of the required exceptions. This mandate aims to provide an alternate track from taxpayer supported social services such as welfare or jail.

Prior legislation history

This is a new bill.

Fiscal implications

To be determined.

Effective date

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