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History
- Referred to education
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Provides an enforcement mechanism for non-public school educational standards
In Assembly Committee · Education · Sponsor Kenneth Zebrowski
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the education law, in relation to required instruction in non-public schools
Purpose
OF THE BILL: This bill creates an enforcement mechanism for education standards in non-public schools.
Summary of provisions
Section one of the bill amends section 3204 of the education law as it relates to clarifying that a student's education in a non-public school must be substantially equivalent to the public school district where the school is located rather than where the minor resides.
Section two of the bill amends the education law by adding a new section 3204-a as it relates to required instruction in non-public schools. All non public students shall receive an education that is substantially equivalent to that in the public schools with respect to rigor, allotted time and subject. It provides parents, students, teachers and residents a method to file a complaint if they feel a non-public school is failing to provide a substantially equivalent education. The commissioner of education must investigate a substantiated complaint to determine if the non-public school is providing an appropriate education. The section provides the commissioner with several remedies to ensure that the school complies with the required educational standards already set by law.
Section three of the bill relates to the effective date.
Justification
This bill would provide parents, students, teachers and residents the ability to file a complaint with the Department of Education if a non-public school fails to provide a "substantially equivalent" education. Currently, all non-public schools must provide instruction that is "substantially equivalent" to that of the public school. This requirement has been around for years in order to ensure that all children are afforded a quality and basic education regardless of where they receive instruction. Unfortunately, there is no enforcement in the law to ensure that non-public schools comply with the required standards; leaving parents and students with no remedy. Recently, several parents and students were forced to sue the school district and state in order to compel their non-public school to increase the educational standards. The lawsuit claimed that students were only provided a limited number of hours of secular education per week. This bill provides a reasonable administrative mechanism to enforce an educational standards law that has been on the books for decades.
Prior legislative history
New Bill.
Fiscal implications for state
Minimal.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.