What's happening
This bill creates a program and fund to provide one free SAT exam during the school day for all public high school students in New York.
Why it matters
Expands college access by reducing financial and logistical barriers for students. By providing one free SAT during the school day, the bill removes exam fees and the need for students to arrange transportation or take time off, potentially increasing participation among low-income and underrepresented students.
Standardizes opportunities across districts. Making the SAT available in all public high schools during regular hours helps level the playing field, ensuring students in less-resourced districts have the same college admissions testing opportunities as those in wealthier areas.
Creates a dedicated, protected funding stream. Establishing the “SAT school day fund” ensures that program funding is specifically allocated, making the initiative more sustainable and less vulnerable to annual budget fluctuations or competing program priorities.
Signals state investment in college-going culture. By institutionalizing the SAT as part of the public school experience, New York is emphasizing the importance of postsecondary pathways and potentially encouraging more students to consider and prepare for college.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Free SATs for Public Students
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
History
- Referred to education
- Referred to education
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4345
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 4, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. WEPRIN, D'URSO, SEAWRIGHT, COLTON, RIVERA, HYND- MAN -- read once and referred to the Committee on Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to establishing the SAT school day program; and to amend the state finance law, in relation to establishing the SAT school day fund
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 342-b to read as follows:
§ 342-b. SAT school day program. 1. The department shall establish and maintain the SAT school day program whereby the department shall utilize funds made available from the SAT school day fund, pursuant to section eighty-nine-j of the state finance law, to enter into contract with the college board to provide the annual administration of the Scholastic Aptitude Test to all test subjects at all public secondary schools free of charge during a regular school day.
2. Each test subject shall be permitted to take the Scholastic Aptitude Test free of charge, as provided in subdivision one of this section, only once.
§ 2. The state finance law is amended by adding a new section 89-j to read as follows:
§ 89-j. SAT school day fund. 1. There is hereby established in the joint custody of the state comptroller and the commissioner of taxation and finance, a special fund to be known as the "SAT school day fund".
2. Such fund shall consist of any moneys appropriated to the fund by the state in addition to all other moneys appropriated, credited or transferred thereto from any other fund or source pursuant to law. Nothing contained herein shall prevent the state from receiving grants, gifts or bequests for the purposes of the fund as defined in this section and depositing them into the fund according to law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD08580-01-9
A. 4345 2
3. Monies of the fund shall be expended only for the administration of the Scholastic Aptitude Test to test subjects in accordance with the provisions of section three hundred forty-two-b of the education law.
4. Monies shall be payable from the fund on the audit and warrant of the comptroller on vouchers approved by the commissioner of education.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
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.