Relates to paperwork reduction and eliminating certain reporting requirements for school districts; repealer

Section 2 of the bill would repeal EDL § 805 to eliminate the Commissioner's ability to withhold funds relating to health education.

Section 3 of the bill would amend § 806(c)(2) to eliminate the inspection and enforcement of highway and traffic safety regulation instruction.

Section 4 of the bill would amend EDL § 2802(5) to modify the reporting contents of the Commissioner's annual report to the Governor, Legislature and the Regents about the prevalence of violence in schools.

Section 5 of the bill would amend § 3602(8)(b) to eliminate the requirement for school districts to file plans regarding alternative format instructional materials.

Section 6 would amend EDL § 4402(1)(b)(5)(e) which eliminates reporting requirements relating to adult services for handicapped children.

Section 7 of the bill would repeal EDL § 4452(1)(b), which eliminates a report relating to gifted students.

Section 8 of the bill would make this bill effective immediately upon enactment.

Existing law

Current law requires, among other things, reports on the Commissioner's ability to withhold funds relating to health education, the inspection and enforcement of highway and traffic safety regulation instruction, an annual report to the Governor, Legislature and the Regents about the prevalence of violence in schools, plans regarding alternative format instructional materials, reporting requirements relating to adult services for handicapped children and reports relating to gifted students.

Statement in support

This bill would require the Commissioner to reduce the paperwork burden that education administrators face, while focusing planning and reporting on student results. Legislation enacted in 2002 required the Commissioner to conduct a review of all plans, applications and reports that school districts are required to submit to the State Education Department (SED) by laws, regulations or administrative action. (Chapter 83 of the laws of 2002.) The Commissioner issued a report the following year, finding that federal law, state law and regulations require a school district to submit approximately 150 plans, applications and reports to SED annually. Many of these requirements have been in place for decades to respond to a variety of different needs for school district improvement, accountability and financial reporting. During this period, the State's technological capacity has grown, and federal and state governments have implemented results-oriented school accountability systems. A streamlined approach for school districts and BOCES would improve planning and reporting by reducing duplicative and burdensome separate reporting systems. It would not, however, eliminate reporting requirements that have been determined to be necessary to maintain fiscal and programmatic accountability for school districts or to protect the health or safety of students or staff.

Accordingly, this bill would require the Commissioner to reduce the paperwork burden while focusing on planning and reporting student results. The bill would require the Commissioner to conform state reporting and planning requirements to federal requirements where possible, and to seek waivers from the federal government where alignment is needed.

Under its enactment, this proposal would enable SED to amend its regulations to eliminate or consolidate school district planning and reporting requirements in statute and to identify for elimination any duplicative or unnecessary requirements the regulations impose. These cumulative effects will result in a substantial reduction in the paperwork burden on school districts and BOCES and permit an improved focus on collecting data necessary to comply with any federal requirements. These efforts will also ensure that there remains fiscal and programmatic accountability.

Finally, the bill eliminates numerous specific statutory reporting requirements that are redundant, superfluous or unnecessary. These include: reports on the Commissioner's ability to withhold funds relating to health education, the inspection and enforcement of highway and traffic safety regulation instruction, an annual report to the Governor, Legislature and the Regents about the prevalence of violence in schools, plans regarding alternative format instructional materials, reporting requirements relating to adult services for handicapped children and reports relating to gifted students.

BUDGET IMPLICATIONS

This bill would create no additional costs to the state or to school districts. It would produce considerable savings in staff time, printing and mailing at the state and local levels for preparing and reviewing separate and, in many instances, duplicative information requirements.

Effective date

This bill becomes effective immediately upon enactment.