Authorizes the reimbursement of non-public schools and teachers

2 Co-sponsors

• Mark Grisanti
• David Storobin

BILL NUMBER:S1740

Title of bill

An act in relation to reimbursing non-public schools and teachers for training

Purpose

To reimburse non-public schools for costs associated with preparing. teachers to handle various facets of state-prepared examinations.

Summary of provisions

This bill would require the state to directly reimburse non-public schools for the costs associated with two days of training for teachers to prepare them in the areas of administering, grading, compiling, and reporting the results of state-prepared examinations. In addition, the state would be required to directly reimburse non-public school teachers the lesser of (i) the pro rata portion of their salary that they are foregoing in order to obtain such training or (ii) an amount equivalent to the pro rata share of the aver- age salary of public school teachers in the school districts in which the non-public school is located.

Existing law

None.

Justification

Non-public schools receive far less in government aid than do public schools. As such, they shoulder an enormous financial burden that public schools do not have to bear. The overall operating costs of non-public schools are extremely high and far surpass any revenue generated by tuition payments by the parents. When a non-public school is forced to bear additional costs associated with testing mandates imposed upon them by the state, the state should be responsible for alleviating that additional burden. This concept was unveiled by New York State Attorney General Eliot Spitzer in a May 2002 report on non-public education. The findings in the Attorney General's report Were based on recommendations put forth by members of his Advisory Committee on Non-Public Education. The committee was comprised of individuals representing the Archdiocese of New York, the New York State Board of Regents, the United Federation of Teachers and the UJA Federation of New York, as well as several other distinguished institutions and organizations.

Legislative history

S.2127 of 2009-10 - Referred to Education S.3721 of 2007-08 - Senate Education S.6296 of 2004 - Senate Education S.2201 of 2006

Fiscal implications

To be determined.

Effective date

This act shall take effect immediately.