What's happening
This bill requires New York State to fully fund technology needed for computer-based student assessments, preventing local taxpayer costs.
Why it matters
Ensures equal access to technology for testing. By requiring the state to fully fund necessary computers and related technology for administering state assessments, the bill helps prevent disparities between wealthier and poorer school districts, supporting fairness in student testing conditions.
Limits financial risk for local districts. The bill explicitly prohibits school districts from being required to spend more on technology than the state aid provided, protecting local budgets from unexpected or unfunded mandates related to state testing.
Promotes strategic, cost-effective implementation. The commissioner of education must create a plan to minimize taxpayer costs and leverage state resources for developing and running computer-based assessments, aiming for efficient use of public funds before large-scale implementation.
Supports modernization of assessments. By specifying that technology upgrades and purchases must be sufficient for secure and effective test administration for all students, the bill encourages timely updates to school technology infrastructure, potentially improving digital literacy and readiness for future educational needs.
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Who cares
Headline styles
State Funds School Test Technology
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Print number 1691b
- Amend and recommit to education
- Referred to education
- Returned to senate
- Died in assembly
- Referred to education
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 60–0
- Ordered to third reading cal.1606
- Reported and committed to rules
- Print number 1691a
- Amend and recommit to finance
Show 2 earlier actions
- Reported and committed to finance
- 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.
Fund School Test Technology
In Assembly Committee · Education · Sponsor Catherine Nolan
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1691--B
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 10, 2017
Introduced by Sen. MARCELLINO -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Education -- reported favorably from said committee and committed to the Committee on Finance -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee -- recommitted to the Committee on Education in accordance with Senate Rule 6, sec. 8 -committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to computer-based assessment technology apportionment
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Legislative intent. The legislature hereby finds it an essential goal to ensure that all New York students receive a high-quality education. The legislature supports the goals of the board of regents in developing a rich educational system that provides multiple pathways to graduation, so that all students are college and career ready. The legislature also recognizes that ensuring our students are fully prepared to compete in the global marketplace requires a significant investment of time and resources. As such, it is vitally important to invest wisely in the development and administration of high-quality assessments that not only measure the progress of students attaining such standards, but also enhance the overall goal of student learning. However, the financial investments associated with the development and administration of high-quality assessments are not yet fully measured, and have the potential to be significant. Therefore, the legislature determines that the costs associated with the development, implementation, and administration of high-quality assessments shall not be borne by local taxpayers, and shall instead be fully funded with financial support from the state.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05013-04-8
S. 1691--B 2
§ 2. The education law is amended by adding a new section 756 to read as follows:
§ 756. Computer-based assessment technology apportionment. 1. In addition to any other apportionments under this chapter, for aid payable beginning in the two thousand nineteen--two thousand twenty school year, a school district and board of cooperative educational services shall be eligible for an apportionment under the provisions of this section for all technology purchases necessary to administer computer-based state assessments.
2. For purposes of this subdivision, "technology purchases" shall mean new purchases of, and/or upgrades of existing, computers and any computer-related equipment, including hardware and any necessary software, needed to adequately administer required computer-based state assessments.
3. The technology purchases shall be of a sufficient quality to:
a. properly and securely administer each required computer-based assessment prescribed by the department; and
b. properly handle the number of students in a particular school district or board of cooperative educational services taking a computer-based state assessment at a given time, in the time allotted by the department.
4. No school district shall be required to purchase or otherwise acquire instructional computer hardware or technology equipment, the cost of which exceeds the amount of state aid provided pursuant to this section.
5. The apportionment provided for in this section shall be paid at such times as may be determined by the commissioner and approved by the director of the budget, during the school year in which the expenditures are reported to the department prior to such apportionment, but not earlier than the school year after the school year in which expenses are incurred.
§ 3. The commissioner of education shall develop a plan to minimize overall taxpayer investment in the development of, and administration of, high-quality computer-based state assessments. Such plan shall identify the costs of implementing computer-based assessments and shall focus on ways to leverage state resources in assessment development and administration to minimize the impact on local school districts and taxpayers. Such plan shall be presented to the governor, the temporary president of the senate, the speaker of the assembly, and the chairs of the senate and assembly education committees prior to making any commitment to implementing computer-based testing, but not later than December 1, 2018.
§ 4. This act shall take effect immediately.
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 computer-based assess- ment technology apportionment
Purpose
To provide reimbursement to school districts and boards of cooperative educational services for costs incurred in providing required computer- based state assessments.
Summary of provisions
Section on lists the Legislative Intent.
The second section creates a new section 756 of the education law which provides reimbursement to school districts and boards of cooperative educational services (BOCES) for costs associated with technology purchases needed to administer required computer-based state assess- ments. Section 2 thereafter defines "technology purchases"; provides guidelines and requirements for the sufficiency of the equipment that is needed and shall be aidable; the amount of computers a school district or BOCES is entitled to above any equipment they may already have; and the ways in which the technology purchases shall be fully aidable.
The third section directs the commissioner to develop a plan to minimize the overall impact on taxpayer investment in the development and admin- istration of required high-quality computer-based state assessments. The commissioner must submit such plan to the Governor and the Legislature prior to making any commitment to computer-based testing, but no later than December 1, 2018.
Justification
It is imperative that New York students receive a high quality educa- tion. Therefore, the Legislature concurs with the goals of the Board of Regents to develop a rich educational system that provides multiple pathways to graduation, and ensures that all students are college and career ready. However, recent years have highlighted the multitude of requirements placed on school districts for which no state funding is provided. As school districts continue to be faced with unprecedented fiscal constraints, it is paramount that any new educational initiative brings with it the proper financial support. School districts and taxpayers simply cannot afford any new unfunded mandates. This legis- lation makes all new technology purchases needed for a school district or BOCES to sufficiently administer Board of Regents approved and required computer-based state assessments, fully reimbursable in the form of a computer-based assessment technology apportionment.
Legislative history
2016: S.6509 Passed Senate 2015: S.3206-A Passed Senate 2013-14: S.5252-A Passed Senate
Fiscal implications
To be determined.
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.