What's happening
This bill allows high school students in New York to earn academic credit toward graduation for internships and practical experiences outside school.
Why it matters
Expands what counts as academic learning. By allowing practical experiences like internships to count toward graduation, the bill recognizes learning that happens outside traditional classrooms, validating skills and knowledge gained in real-world settings.
Increases flexibility for students. Students with diverse interests, career goals, or life circumstances can pursue non-traditional pathways to graduation, making education more adaptable to individual needs.
Aligns education with workforce demands. By integrating practical and work-based experiences into academic credit, the bill helps bridge the gap between school and employment, potentially making students better prepared for jobs or further training after graduation.
Requires clear state guidance and standards. The commissioner must set rules for how practical experiences qualify for credit, ensuring that such activities are meaningful, structured, and aligned with educational objectives rather than being arbitrary or inconsistent across schools.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Credit for Real-World Experience
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
10 Co-sponsors
1 Multi-sponsor
History
- Referred 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.
Credit for Real-World Experience
In Senate Committee · Education · Sponsor Simcha Felder
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3980
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 31, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. HYNDMAN, VANEL, DICKENS, PHEFFER AMATO -- Multi- Sponsored by -- M. of A. CRESPO -- read once and referred to the Committee on Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to providing academic credit toward a high school diploma for practical experience
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 57 to read as follows:
57. Notwithstanding any rule of the regents to the contrary, the commissioner shall promulgate rules providing academic credit, which shall be utilized in the awarding of all types of high school diplomas, for practical experience received by students while in high school. Subject to the rules of the commissioner, practical experience may be deemed to satisfy requirements for successful completion of an academic course of instruction, related to such experience, which is necessary for the awarding of a high school diploma. Practical experience shall include internships and other learning experiences which occur outside of school, and which provide experience and knowledge in an academic discipline or a trade.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the first of September next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02618-01-9
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.