What's happening
This bill creates a free, school-day test preparation program and pre-specialized high schools admissions test for all sixth graders in New York City.
Why it matters
Aims to level the playing field for all sixth graders. by making test preparation and an admissions practice exam for specialized high schools available to every student during regular school hours, regardless of their family's resources.
Addresses educational disparities. by requiring schools to provide a personalized "gap analysis" after students complete the prep program and test, helping identify each student's academic strengths and areas needing improvement.
Empowers schools and families to act on student needs. by mandating that results from the gap analysis guide instructional approaches, including access to more intensive test prep or other educational supports, potentially boosting long-term academic outcomes.
Supports opt-out flexibility. for parents who do not wish their child to participate, ensuring the program is broadly available but not compulsory, which may ease concerns about over-testing or parental choice.
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Who cares
New York City sixth graders
They would have access to free preparation during the school day culminating in a pre-specialized high schools admissions test in May or June.
Parents of sixth graders
They could opt their children out of the preparation program and would receive a gap analysis upon program completion.
New York City schools
They would receive each participating student's gap analysis and be required to use it to tailor instruction to that student's needs.
New York City Department of Education officials
They would help establish the preparation program and pre-specialized high schools admissions test.
Headline styles
Free Prep for High School Test
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
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.
Free Test Prep for Sixth Graders
In Senate Committee · Education · Sponsor Jamaal Bailey
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
10539
IN ASSEMBLY
May 4, 2018
Introduced by M. of A. HYNDMAN -- read once and referred to the Committee on Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to the creation of a pre-specialized high schools admissions test and preparation program
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 2590-h of the education law is amended by adding a new subdivision 55 to read as follows:
55. Establish, in conjunction with the appropriate New York city department of education officials, a test preparation program for students in the sixth grade culminating in a pre-specialized high schools admissions test to be administered in May or June of each year. Such test preparation and the pre-specialized high schools admissions test shall be available to all sixth grade students free of charge during the regular operating hours of the school day. Parents may choose for their student to not be a part of the test preparation program. Upon completion of the program, each student, their parents, and their school shall receive a gap analysis. Schools shall use each student's gap analysis to tailor the student's instruction to meet the needs of the student including, but not limited to, the use of the specialized high schools admissions test intensive or any other New York city department of education program available.
§ 2. Section 2590-h of the education law is amended by adding a new subdivision 39 to read as follows:
39. Establish, in conjunction with the appropriate New York city department of education officials, a test preparation program for students in the sixth grade culminating in a pre-specialized high schools admissions test to be administered in May or June of each year. Such test preparation and the pre-specialized high schools admissions test shall be available to all sixth grade students free of charge during the regular operating hours of the school day. Parents may choose for their student to not be a part of the test preparation program. Upon completion of the program, each student, their parents, and their school shall receive a gap analysis. Schools shall use each
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD15438-02-8
A. 10539 2
student's gap analysis to tailor the student's instruction to meet the needs of the student including, but not limited to, the use of the specialized high schools admissions test intensive or any other New York city department of education program available.
§ 3. This act shall take effect on the first of July next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law; provided that the amendments to section 2590-h of the education law, made by section one of this act, shall be subject to the expiration and reversion of such section, pursuant to subdivision 12 of section 17 of chapter 345 of the laws of 2009, as amended, when upon such date the provisions of section two of this act shall take effect. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and completed on or before such effective date.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.