Relates to creating the over-age and under-credited or out of school student program

1 Co-sponsor

• Diane J. Savino

Title of bill

An act to amend the education law, in relation to establishing the over-age and under-credited or out of school student program

Purpose or general idea of bill

The purpose of this bill is to provide an effective place for those students who drop out of high school to go to immediately, to begin work towards a G.E.D.

Summary of specific provisions

Section 1: Directions the commissioner of State Education Department to create a program designed to catch over-age and under-credited youth who leave high school early, separate and apart from any already existing alternative high school programs.

Section 2: Identifies those children who are no longer of the established compulsory school age for their district, who lawfully leaves school, will be offered the appropriate programming for pursuit of a G.E.D.

Section 3: State Education Department will recognize and allow G.E.D. credentialing for over-age and under-credited or out of school youth who are no longer of compulsory school age.

Section 4: Provides that the department, in anticipation of changes to the Federal No Child Left Behind Act will propose that achievement of a G.E.D. will be considered a valued outcome in the accountability system other than a non-completer.

Section 7: Effective Date.

Justification

There currently exists a void within the New York State funding of education for out-of-school and high risk youth. The current non traditional education systems and their funding patterns reward inefficiency. This bill would create a new program designed at capturing students who drop out of school lawfully between the ages of 16 and 20. Because of the current funding sources, GED programs are discouraged from servicing students under the age of 21 because they will receive no reimbursement for that service. If the legal age that a student can leave school is 16, then that needs to be the point at which alternative pathways to graduation are in place. Having programs that aim at capturing non-completers over the age of 21 is important, but adult GED preparation programs are not created with the out-of school youth in mind or with pedagogical practices that capture their needs. So many dangerous and negative events can happen to an out-of-school youth between the ages of 16 to 20 that New York State needs to make this commitment to our students so they may have a chance at survival. It is the responsibility of the education system to safety-net students who are leaving school, instead of letting them go and hoping that they find their way back to education on their own.

Prior legislative history

Similar bills have been introduced.

Fiscal implications

To be determined.

Effective date

April 1, 2010, provided however, that effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized and directed to be made and completed on or before such effective date.