Requires the notification in writing of discharge or transfer of minors from attendance upon instruction and the reporting of such data to the legislature

4 Co-sponsors

• Ruben Diaz
• Thomas K. Duane
• Shirley L. Huntley
• John L. Sampson

BILL NUMBER:S997

Title of bill

An act to amend the education law, in relation to notification of discharge from attendance upon instruction

Purpose

This legislation will enable the collection of more detailed data of student discharges.

Summary of provisions

Section 3211(4) is amended to require principals to give additional information to the city or district school authorities of the discharge or transfer of students. The information will contain a clear breakdown of all discharges and dropouts for students age 21 and under, the reasons they left the public school system, a demographic and racial breakdown, the number enrolled in GED programs, the number of ELL students and special education students that were discharged, and what support or services were offered before discharge.

A new subdivision 5 is added to require that all school districts submit this data to the State Education Department. The State Education Department will provide a report to the legislature by November 30 of each year.

Existing law

Section 3211(4) requires principals of a school to give prompt notification in writing to city or district school authorities of the discharge or transfer of any minor from attendance upon instruction, stating the date of discharge, its cause, the name of the minor, his/her date of birth, his/her place of residence prior to and following discharge and the name of the parent or guardian.

Justification

Recent studies have shown that an alarming number of students are leaving schools without graduating. We must, when considering the scale of the problem, consider all high school students who enter school in the ninth grade and do not graduate within four years. Statistics which are easily available from the State Department of Education do not show all students who are discharged. For this reason the scale of the problem remains unknown.

We want all students to be able to attain the standards the New York State Regents have set. At-risk students and low performing students need to be provided with the support and services necessary for them to accomplish these goals. The alarming number of students being discharged makes it clear that additional data needs to be gathered in order to develop programs and solutions so that all of our children are given every opportunity to graduate from high school.

Legislative history

2009-2010: S.1291 Died in Committee 2007-2008: S.4762 Died in Committee 2005-2006: S.1798 Died in Committee 2003-2004: S.4222 Died in Committee

Fiscal implications

Minimal.

Effective date

This act shall take effect immediately.