What's happening
This bill requires all New York public school districts to provide language assistance programs for limited English proficient parents.
Why it matters
Strengthens parental involvement. By ensuring that limited English proficient (LEP) parents can communicate with teachers and school staff in their primary language, the bill gives these families a more effective voice in their children's education, potentially leading to better academic outcomes.
Mandates accountability and transparency. School districts must track and report how many LEP parents are served, how many complaints are received, and how many bilingual personnel are used, promoting oversight and helping identify gaps or areas for improvement.
Targets resources where most needed. The definition of “primary language” focuses on the most common non-English languages in a district, ensuring translation and assistance resources are prioritized for languages that affect a significant portion of the population.
Establishes enforceable rights. The bill requires a formal complaint procedure for parents who feel their language needs aren’t being met, giving LEP parents a mechanism to address non-compliance and advocate for their rights.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Help Parents Understand School
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to education
- Referred to education
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2859
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 17, 2017
Introduced by Sen. PARKER -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to requiring public school districts to provide language assistance to limited English proficient parents of students
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 305 of the education law is amended by adding a new subdivision 56 to read as follows:
56. a. All school districts shall establish a language assistance program where limited English proficient parents would have effective access to communicate with teachers and school personnel. This comprehensive program shall include, but is not limited to:
(1) Providing that all frequently used forms and other written materials that are sent home to limited English proficient parents in their primary language;
(2) Providing language assistance to limited English proficient parents in their primary language who call or come into school with concerns related to their child's schooling;
(3) Providing language assistance services to limited English proficient parents in their primary language to facilitate parent attendance at school-sponsored programs designed for communication with parents including, but not limited to, parent-teacher conferences, workshops and school fairs.
b. A notice of the availability of the language assistance programs for limited English proficient parents established pursuant to paragraph a of this subdivision shall be mailed to the homes of such limited English proficient parents in a notice written in their primary language.
c. Each school district shall keep a record documenting its language assistance program and shall submit a summary report annually to the
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00511-02-7
S. 2859 2
commissioner. Such record and report shall include, but not be limited to:
(1) The number of limited English proficient parents who receive such assistance;
(2) The number of limited English proficient households where one parent is English language proficient; and
(3) The number of complaints filed by limited English proficient parents; and
(4) The number of bilingual personnel used to assist in the language assistance and translation services.
d. The commissioner shall promulgate such rules and regulations as may be necessary and proper to implement the provisions of this subdivision, including but not limited to, the methodology to be used by each school district to determine or assess the primary languages, the number of limited English proficient parents, the percentage of limited English proficient parents to students and the native language of such limited English proficient parents, and a complaint procedure for any parent who alleges a school's non-compliance with the provisions of this subdivision.
e. For purposes of this subdivision:
(1) "Primary language" means one of the five most common languages in a school district, other than English, (i) spoken and used to communicate, by limited English proficient parents and (ii) non-English speaking residents or limited English proficient parents constitutes more than five percent of the residents of a school district, as determined by data from the two most recent federal decennial censuses.
(2) "Limited English proficient parents" means parents or parent of a minor child who attends public school and such parents or parent is unable to communicate effectively in English with teachers and school personnel at the school attended by his or her child.
f. Nothing in this subdivision shall prohibit a school district from entering into a cooperative agreement with other school districts to jointly establish such a language assistance program.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it shall have become a law. 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.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the education law, in relation to requiring public school districts to provide language assistance to limited English proficient parents of students
Purpose
To ensure parents who cannot speak English proficiently have adequate access to education related documents and procedures.
Summary of provisions
The bill adds a new subdivision to the Education law, which would require all school districts to establish a language assistance program where a limited English proficient parent would have effective access to communicate with school regarding their children's education.
Each school district will also keep a record documenting the effectiveness of language assistance program, and develop a complaint procedure for any Parent who alleges the school's noncompliance with the provisions of this section.
Justification
The bill is necessary to better serve those parents in the state of New York who cannot speak or understand the English language, or have difficulty doing so proficiently. Although a number of studies have shown that parental involvement is important to a student's success in school, parents with limited English proficiency cannot be involved in their children's education. Many of such parents are immigrants who come to this country seeking educational opportunity for their children. In order to better facilitate communication between children and their parents, and parents and their children's schools, it is imperative to implement language assistance programs that will enable parents to fully Participate in their children's education.
Legislative history
2015-2016: S.1064A - Amend and Recommit to Education 2013-2014: S.2360A/A.1974A - Died in Education 2011-2012: S.1145A - Referred to Education 2009-2010: S.4564/A.474 - Referred to Education 2007-2008: A.4781 - Education 2006-2007: A.4781 - Education
Fiscal impact on tee state
To be determined.
Effective date
This act shall take effect 180th day with provisions.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.