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History
- Referred to education
Full text
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Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the education law, in relation to the providing of school social work and school psychologists' services, and the employment of attendance teachers in public schools
Summary of specific provisions
This bill adds a new subdivision 3 to Section 3213 of the Education Law to provide that the minimum number of certified attendance teachers to be employed by each school district of the state shall be in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Commissioner of Education which set numerically a ratio of attendance teachers to students. The bill requires that any person newly employed as an attendance teacher shall be duly certified as an attendance teacher.
The bill also adds a new Section 3204-a to the Education Law to require all school districts to provide school social work services and school psychologists' services in accordance with regulations prescribed by the commissioner of Education and to further require that persons employed to provide such services shall be duly certified as school social workers or school psychologists in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Commissioner.
Read the full memo (647 words)
Justification
New York State's public schools are committed to providing a quality educational program for all students. Obviously, education can not take place if the student does not attend school, nor can effective education take place if the student is not well adjusted to school. An adequate staff of certified attendance teachers is essential to ensure that students not only attend school but that they are well adjusted to school.
The attendance teacher is the liaison person between the home and school charged with the responsibility to protect the right of the student to a quality education. The attendance teacher seeks the causes of nonattendance, assists in the school adjustment of the student and interprets the home situation to the professional staff. As such, the attendance teacher is an important team member to help broaden the school's knowledge and understanding of the home and to assist the student in becoming well adjusted to school life. Enactment of this bill would enhance the effectiveness of education in the State by setting minimal standards of employment of attendance teachers in the schools of the state.
The bill also requires all school districts to provide school social work services and school psychologists' services by duly certified school social workers or school psychologists, in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Commissioner of Education. An adequate program of school social work services and school psychological services is an appropriate and necessary part of the public school program.
The school social worker acts as a liaison between the home and the school, working with the parents, teachers and children. The school social worker attempts to (1) identify the problems the child may be facing at home and at school and (2) coordinate a planned program with the parents and with the teacher in order to enable the child to resolve his/her problems and, thus, achieve a meaningful education.
At a time when children are faced with increasing personal and societal pressures that affect their school performance and personal development, the school psychologist provides invaluable diagnostic and treatment services. Working with the parents and teachers of the troubled child, the school psychologist identifies the problems experienced by the child at home and at school and coordinates a planned program of treatment in order to enable the child to resolve his/her problems and, thus, achieve a meaningful education.
In a time of increased juvenile delinquency, increased consumption of alcohol and drugs and increased vandalism in the schools, it becomes absolutely necessary to offer social work services and school psychological services by certified personnel who are qualified to aid in the resolution of such problems.
Prior legislative history
2000: A.1655 Referred to Education 2001: A.1655 Referred to Education 2001: A.9924 Referred to Education
Effective date
July 1 following enactment.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.