What's happening
This bill requires New York schools to offer the TASC exam and related instruction in Chinese and Korean for students with limited English proficiency.
Why it matters
Addresses educational equity. by ensuring that Chinese and Korean-speaking students with limited English proficiency have fair access to high school equivalency certification, potentially reducing barriers to graduation and further education or employment.
Mandates schools to provide both the TASC exam and all related instruction, notifications, and preparation materials in Chinese or Korean. , not just the exam itself. This means students can fully engage in the preparatory process in their strongest language, which can improve test performance and overall educational outcomes.
Requires annual reporting by school districts. on the number of students taking the TASC in Chinese or Korean, establishing accountability and data collection to monitor usage, identify trends, and support future policy decisions.
Authorizes the state education commissioner to create necessary regulations and contracts. (including contracting with national testing organizations) to ensure high-quality translation, administration, and implementation, signaling a potentially significant operational expansion for schools and the education department.
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Who cares
Chinese- and Korean-proficient students with limited English proficiency
They would be entitled to TASC preparation instruction and testing in Chinese or Korean, with exam-related notices and correspondence in those languages.
School districts and boards of education
They would have to provide the exams and any district-offered preparation courses and materials in Chinese or Korean, maintain records of students tested in those languages and report annually to the Education Department.
State education commissioner and Education Department
They would oversee implementation, with authority to issue regulations including directions for a contract with the American Council on Education to develop and provide testing materials.
Headline styles
TASC Test in Asian Languages
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to education
Companion bills
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.
TASC Tests in Chinese, Korean
In Assembly Committee · Education · Sponsor Nily Rozic
TASC Offered in Asian Languages
In Senate Committee · Education · Sponsor Brian Kavanagh
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4804
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
March 2, 2017
Introduced by Sen. SQUADRON -- 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 the administration of the TASC examination in the Chinese and Korean languages for pupils who are proficient in such languages and of limited English proficiency
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 3204-a to read as follows:
§ 3204-a. Administration of the TASC examination in the Chinese and Korean languages. 1. Students who are proficient in the Chinese or Korean language and of limited English proficiency shall be entitled to receive instruction in preparation for the TASC examination and the administration of such examination in the Chinese or Korean language.
2. The commissioner shall require each board of education, including the board of each community school district of the city of New York, make available to all pupils proficient in the Chinese or Korean language, and of limited proficiency in English, the official TASC examination written in such native language, and make available any instructional courses or programs for the preparation of such examination, which are offered by the school district, including course materials, in such native language. The commissioner shall further direct that any notification or correspondence relating to the administration of the TASC examination shall be written in the Chinese or Korean language.
3. Each school district shall obtain and maintain a record of pupils who have the TASC examination administered in the Chinese or Korean language and shall report such information to the department on an annual basis.
§ 2. The commissioner of education is hereby authorized to promulgate any rules or regulations necessary for the implementation of this act,
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00428-01-7
S. 4804 2
including, but not limited to, rules or regulations directing the department to enter into a contract with the American Council on Education to develop and provide appropriate testing materials.
§ 3. This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after it shall have become a law.
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 the administration of the TASC examination in the Chinese and Korean languages for pupils who are proficient in such languages and of limited English proficiency
Purpose
To allow students who are proficient in the Chinese or Korean language and of limited English proficiency the option to receive instruction in preparation for the Test Assessing Secondary Completion (TASC) and the administration of such examination in the Chinese or Korean language.
Summary of provisions
The Commissioner of Education shall require each board of education, including the board of each community school district of the city of New York, to make available to all pupils proficient in the Chinese or Korean language, and of limited proficiency in English, the official TASC examination written in such native language, and make available any instructional courses or programs for the preparation of such examination.
Justification
While learning to read, write and speak English is a common and worthy goal of any student in the United States, test-taking may be unnecessarily challenging for those who are still growing in their use of the English language. This legislation provides the opportunity for students to show their proficiency in subjects while not being handicapped by their still developing grasp of the English language. Currently the TASC examination is available in Spanish, and as the Asian American population is growing by leaps and bounds, it would make sense to also it available in Chinese and Korean.
Legislative history
2016: 5582/A241 - REFERRED TO EDUCATION/referred to education 2015: S582/A241 - REFERRED TO EDUCATION/referred to education 2013-2014: S182/A1972 (Rozic) - REFERRED TO EDUCATION/referred to education 2011-2012: S91/A5988 (Kavanagh) - REFERRED TO EDUCATION/referred to education 2009-2010: S4107/A475 (Kavanagh) - REFERRED TO EDUCATION/referred to education 2007-2008: A10763 (Young) - referred to education
Fiscal implications
To be determined.
Local implications
To be determined.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after it shall have become a law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.