What's happening
This bill creates a five-year pilot program at Suffolk County Community College to provide affordable online GED assistance, including curriculum, tutoring, and a study on statewide expansion.
Why it matters
Expands GED access through online learning. By allowing Suffolk County Community College to run an online GED program, the bill aims to reduce barriers for adults who can’t attend in-person classes due to work, family, or transportation issues.
Caps costs for participants. With tuition limited to $250 per semester, the program is designed to be more affordable than many private alternatives, potentially increasing participation among low-income individuals seeking a high school equivalency.
Leverages college students as tutors. Allowing high-achieving college students to work as paid teaching assistants provides GED candidates with peer support while also giving college students valuable experience and income.
Creates a model for statewide adoption. By funding a study on the program’s effectiveness and requiring recommendations for possible statewide expansion, the bill could lead to broader access to GED support across New York if the pilot proves successful.
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Who cares
People seeking a general equivalency degree
The pilot would offer online exam preparation, graded practice tests and email tutoring, with any tuition capped at $250 per semester.
Suffolk County Community College trustees
The bill would authorize them to establish the pilot, provide $100,000 for implementation and require an evaluation with recommendations on statewide expansion.
Suffolk County Community College students
Students maintaining a GPA above 3.5 through the semester preceding their application could provide tutoring, with compensation set by the trustees.
Headline styles
Help for GED Seekers
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
3 Co-sponsors
4 Multi-sponsors
History
- Referred to higher education
- Referred to higher education
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4659
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 5, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. ENGLEBRIGHT, COOK, GALEF, GUNTHER -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. GOTTFRIED, McDONOUGH, MOSLEY, THIELE -- read once and referred to the Committee on Higher Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to establishing the general equivalency degree assistance pilot program; making an appropriation therefor; and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof
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 6311 to read as follows:
§ 6311. General equivalency degree assistance pilot program. 1. Authorization. Notwithstanding any provision of law, rule or regulation to the contrary, the board of trustees of Suffolk county community college is authorized to establish a pilot program for online education for the purpose of assisting individuals with obtaining their general equivalency degree.
2. Tuition. The board of trustees may charge tuition for such program; provided that such fees shall not exceed two hundred fifty dollars per semester per individual enrolled in such program.
3. Curriculum. The board of trustees shall develop and implement a curriculum designed to meet the standards of education necessary to pass the general equivalency exam; provided, however, that such curriculum shall, at a minimum, include a course of study in mathematics, English reading and comprehension, United States and world history and the general sciences.
4. Website. (a) The board of trustees shall maintain a website displaying the curriculum, instructions on the recommended course of study, quizzes and practice tests on the subject material, and links to free tutorial programs adjudged informative and valid by the board.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD08443-01-9
A. 4659 2
(b) Each course of study shall be maintained under its own dedicated webpage or section of such website.
(c) Such website shall prominently display the dates, times and places where the general equivalency exam is available and instructions on how a prospective candidate may apply.
(d) Such website shall be interactive in format with prospective candidates to the general equivalency exam able to submit practice exams and quizzes for grading, as well as the ability to seek tutorial assistance on the subject matter through electronic mail.
5. Teaching assistants. Students of Suffolk county community college that maintain a grade point average above 3.5 through the semester preceding their application as a teaching assistant shall be eligible to provide tutorial services to prospective candidates. The compensation of such students shall be set by the board of trustees.
§ 2. During the fourth year next succeeding the effective date of this act, the board of trustees of Suffolk county community college shall undertake or cause to be undertaken a study on the effectiveness of the general equivalency degree assistance pilot program and its effects on ameliorating the number of high school dropouts without a general equivalency degree and shall prepare recommendations for the governor and legislature on whether a general equivalency degree assistance pilot program should be established statewide, and, if so, make recommendations as to provisions including state incentives for the program.
§ 3. The sum of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000), or so much thereof as may be necessary, is hereby appropriated out of any monies in the state treasury in the general fund to the credit of the state purposes fund, not otherwise appropriated, and made immediately available, for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this act. Such monies shall be payable on the audit and warrant of the comptroller on vouchers certified or approved by the comptroller of Suffolk county in the manner prescribed by law.
§ 4. This act shall take effect on the first of September next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law and shall expire 5 years after such effective date when upon such date the provisions of this act shall be deemed repealed.
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.