What's happening
This bill designates the New York State career development and occupational studies commencement credential as a diploma and sets requirements for its issuance and school district accountability.
Why it matters
Redefines the CDOS Credential as a True Diploma. By designating the Career Development and Occupational Studies (CDOS) credential as a diploma, this bill could expand postsecondary and employment opportunities for students who earn it, especially those with disabilities who might otherwise be limited by not having a diploma recognized as such.
Creates New School District Accountability Measures. Districts that issue the CDOS diploma (not supplementing a local or Regents diploma) to more than 20% of students with disabilities in a cohort will be required to redirect federal special education funds toward activities that improve access to the general education curriculum. This aims to prevent over-reliance on the CDOS diploma as an exit path and encourages broader educational inclusion.
Mandates State Oversight for Equitable Access. The bill requires the state education commissioner to issue regulations ensuring all students have meaningful access to earn local or Regents diplomas, not just the CDOS diploma. This could drive schools to provide better supports and curricular access for students with disabilities, aiming for higher academic outcomes and reducing tracking into less rigorous diploma paths.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Make Credential a Diploma
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
14 Co-sponsors
3 Multi-sponsors
History
- Held for consideration in education
- Referred to education
- 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.
Rename Credential as Diploma
In Senate Committee · Education · Sponsor Carl L. Marcellino
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2283
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 17, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. RA, MURRAY, McDONOUGH, GRAF, LUPINACCI, LAWRENCE, BUTLER, GIGLIO, CROUCH, PALMESANO, RAIA, WALTER, PALUMBO -- Multi- Sponsored by -- M. of A. BARCLAY, THIELE -- read once and referred to the Committee on Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to the New York state career development and occupational studies commencement credential
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The education law is amended by adding a new section 4401-b to read as follows:
§ 4401-b. High school exiting credentials. 1. Notwithstanding any provision of law, rule or regulation to the contrary, the New York state career development and occupational studies commencement credential shall be considered a diploma and be renamed as such and shall be issued at the same time the student receives his or her local or regents diploma or any time after such student has attended school for at least twelve years, excluding kindergarten, or has received a substantially equivalent education elsewhere, or at the end of the school year in which a student attains the age of twenty-one.
2. A school district that awards the New York state career development and occupational studies commencement diploma to more than twenty percent of the students with disabilities in the cohort, where such diploma is not a supplement to a local or regents diploma, shall be required to use a portion of its Part B individuals with disabilities education act grant funds for targeted activities as deemed necessary by the department to ensure that students with disabilities have appropriate access to participate and progress in the general education curriculum necessary to earn a local or regents diploma.
3. The commissioner shall promulgate rules and regulations ensuring that all students are provided with the appropriate access to earn a local or regents diploma, including providing students with meaningful
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06721-01-7
A. 2283 2
access to participate and progress in the general curriculum to assist in meeting the state's learning standards.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately, and shall be deemed to have been in full force and effect on and after July 1, 2013.
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.