What's happening
This bill allows International Baccalaureate exam scores to qualify students for the New York State merit scholarship.
Why it matters
Expands scholarship eligibility to a wider pool of high-achieving students. , specifically those in International Baccalaureate (IB) programs, recognizing their academic accomplishments alongside Advanced Placement (AP) and Regents exams.
Addresses equity for students in schools that offer IB programs instead of, or in addition to, AP courses. , ensuring these students are not disadvantaged when applying for New York State merit scholarships.
Encourages schools and students to consider rigorous international standards. , promoting the value of IB coursework and potentially boosting participation in globally recognized academic programs.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Include IB Scores for Scholarships
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
History
- Referred to higher education
- Referred to higher 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.
Include IB Scores for Scholarships
In Assembly Committee · Higher Education · Sponsor Patricia Fahy
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
143
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE (Prefiled)
January 4, 2017
Introduced by Sens. KAMINSKY, ADDABBO, COMRIE, KENNEDY, KRUEGER, LATIM- ER, PARKER, STAVISKY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Higher Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to including scores for international baccalaureate examinations as eligible criteria for receiving a New York state achievement and investment in merit scholarship
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Paragraph b of subdivision 2 of section 669-g of the education law, as added by section 1 of part Z of chapter 56 of the laws of 2015, is amended to read as follows:
b. graduated with a "with honors" distinction on a New York state regents diploma [or], received a score of 3 or higher on two or more advanced placement examinations, received a score of 3 or higher on one or more international baccalaureate higher level examinations, or received a score of 4 of higher on one or more international baccalaureate standard level examinations; or
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02675-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the education law, in relation to including scores for international baccalaureate examinations as eligible criteria for receiving a New York state achievement and investment in merit scholarship
Purpose
To ensure that high school students participating in International Baccalaureate (IB) programs are not excluded from being considered for a NYS Achievement and Investment Merit Scholarship (NY-AIMS).
Summary of provisions
Paragraph b of subdivision 2 of section 669-g of the education law, as added by section 1 of part Z of chapter 56 of the laws of 2015 is amended.
Justification
The NYS Achievement and Investment Merit Scholarship was created last year by the Legislature to offer higher education financial assistance to students who have achieved academic excellence in high school and plan to enroll in a public or private college in New York state immediately after graduation. As currently written, the criteria requires students to have graduated with two of the following: a grade point average of 3.3 or higher; graduated with honors on a New York State Regents diploma or received a score of 3 or higher on two or more Advanced Placement (AP) exams; or graduated within the top 15% of his or her high school class.
Unfortunately, the existing criteria does not contain a mechanism for students participating in International Baccalaureate programs to apply or be eligible for the scholarship. There are more than 50 high schools across the state that offer the IB diploma and hundreds of students that would otherwise be eligible. The bill language simply adds comparable qualifying criteria for IB students who have also achieved academic excellence.
Prior legislative history
S.7650 of 2016 - Higher Education Committee
Fiscal implications
Minimal
Effective date
Immediately
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.