What's happening
This bill authorizes an annual award for school staff who develop exceptional farm-to-school programs or school gardens, including SUNY/CUNY tuition credits.
Why it matters
Promotes hands-on learning and healthy eating. By recognizing staff who excel at developing farm-to-school programs and school gardens, the bill encourages educational experiences that connect students to agriculture, nutrition, and the food system—potentially improving student health and engagement.
Strengthens local agriculture links. Special consideration for candidates who incorporate local or regional agricultural products into classrooms and cafeterias means this award could boost demand for New York farm products, reinforcing farm-to-school economic and community ties.
Encourages professional growth for educators. The SUNY/CUNY tuition credit as part of the award offers tangible support for educators’ continued education or professional advancement, making this recognition more meaningful and potentially helping retain innovative school staff.
Elevates the status of experiential education. By presenting the awards annually at the New York State Fair, the initiative publicly celebrates the value of hands-on, project-based learning and highlights its importance to both education and the broader agricultural community.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Reward School Garden Leaders
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to education
- Print number 7007a
- Amend (t) and recommit 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.
Reward School Farm Leaders
In Senate Committee · Education · Sponsor Patty Ritchie
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
7007--A
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
March 29, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. WOERNER -- read once and referred to the Committee on Education -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to authorize the commissioner of agriculture and markets to create an annual award to recognize school staff involved in a farmto-school program or school garden
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The commissioner of agriculture and markets is hereby authorized and directed to create an award to be presented every year hereafter in recognition of school staff that collectively developed an exceptional farm-to-school program or school garden at their place of employment. The commissioner of agriculture and markets shall be authorized to provide funds for this award only to the extent that an appropriation is available for this act's specific purpose.
§ 2. (a) Candidates can be nominated by their school's principal, their peers, or community members. The commissioner of agriculture and markets is instructed to seek candidates with at least the qualities prescribed in this section, though additional criteria not prescribed here may be used when evaluating candidates. With respect to their school's farm-to-school program or school garden candidates should:
(i) demonstrate excellence in the field, guiding students of all backgrounds and abilities to achieve excellence;
(ii) consistently demonstrate a positive impact on student achievement;
(iii) collaborate with colleagues, students, and families to create a school culture of respect and success;
(iv) demonstrate leadership and innovation in and outside of the classroom walls that embodies lifelong learning; and
(v) express themselves in an engaging and articulate way.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07035-07-7
A. 7007--A 2
(b) For each quality listed in subdivision (a) of this section, specific examples and data shall be provided on behalf of each group of candidates. However, primarily quantitative responses should not be favored where quantitative data obscures qualitative information concerning student experiences. Special consideration should be given to those candidates that integrate local or regional agricultural products of any kind in to the classroom, cafeteria, and curriculum, or that have founded school gardens or mini-farms.
§ 3. Awards shall consist of a credit covering any tuition and fees incurred subsequent to an awardee's enrollment in any part of SUNY or CUNY, if such enrollment occurs. This credit will be capped at the tuition and fees associated with a maximum of six credit hours.
§ 4. Awards shall be given each year at the New York state fair in consultation with the state fair's agriculture department, the director of the state fair and the commissioner of education. The first such award will be granted in the year following the year of enactment.
§ 5. This act shall take effect immediately.
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.