Fund Early College Programs

Section 1. Legislative intent. The legislature hereby finds and declares it necessary to preserve and continue the New York state early college high school program and the New York state pathways in technology early college high school program (P-TECH program) in this state which provide various students, including those traditionally underrepresented in post-secondary education, with the opportunity to access college-level courses and college degree credits at the high school level with the combined support of high school and college staff and resources, and for P-TECH programs, career training and employment in a highly skilled job upon completion of the program.

The early college high school program not only increases students' access to higher education, but also reduces potential costs for students in completing college degrees by allowing them to either complete a degree upon graduation from high school or to apply their earned college credits towards an associate's or baccalaureate's degree. This innovative program provides incentives to high school students to proceed to college and to earn a college degree by accelerating their overall completion of a degree. It also better prepares them for college-level coursework, which, will in turn, increase their academic performance. Ultimately, this program increases graduation rates both at the high school and college levels, especially for academically at-risk students.

The P-TECH program, through a public-private partnership, prepares thousands of New York students for high-skill jobs of the future in technology, manufacturing, healthcare and finance. The P-TECH program provides students with a rigorous, relevant and cost-free high school

EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets

[ ] is old law to be omitted.

LBD07656-01-9

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and college education and a workplace learning environment with ongoing mentoring by professionals in the chosen career sector to better prepare these students for successful careers. Students also receive a commitment from the participating employer to be first in line for consideration for a job following completion of the program. Ultimately, this program increases graduation rates both at the high school and college levels and provides essential career training for academically at-risk, disadvantaged students, which at the completion of the program leads these students to a skilled job.

The legislature hereby finds and declares it necessary to provide funding for these programs to ensure that they continue in operation and continue to provide students with these valuable services.

The legislature also finds and declares it necessary to provide additional funding for the state education department to administer and evaluate these critical programs. These funds will support program staff to supplement the oversight already being provided to these programs, and ensure the timely and accurate analysis of data to further enhance and validate these programs.

§ 2. The education law is amended by adding a new section 6457 to read as follows:

§ 6457. Grant awards for New York state early college high school programs. 1. Subject to an appropriation, the commissioner shall allocate funds available for early college high school programs for the purposes of increasing high school graduation rates for academically at-risk, disadvantaged and/or economically disadvantaged students and to increase their participation in post-secondary education through a network of early college high school partnerships in the state.

2. For the purposes of this section:

a. "approved early college high school program" means a formal partnership between a school district and at least one institution of higher education, approved by the commissioner in accordance with the regulations of the commissioner and the request for proposals process, which provides eligible students enrolled in such program with high school courses leading to the granting of a high school diploma and collegelevel courses leading to the granting of at least twenty-four college credits and up to a post-secondary degree or diploma from a partner institution of higher education at no cost to the student or student's family.

b. "early college high school" means a public high school that offers an approved early college high school program to its students;

c. "eligible applicant" means a New York state school district with an approved early college high school program which partners with a notfor-profit higher education institution to offer college-level courses leading to the granting of at least twenty-four college credits and up to a post-secondary degree or diploma, or a not-for-profit higher education institution registered with the department which partners with a New York state school district to offer an approved early college high school program;

d. "eligible student" means a student who:

(i) is a resident of the school district in which the early college high school is located and is enrolled in such school district; and

(ii) is registered to attend such high school for the academic years for which the grant award is being sought.

3. Monies made available under this section shall be spent for the following purposes as further prescribed by the commissioner in the request for proposals process:

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a. to provide additional staffing for the early college high school program, including a program director and college liaison;

b. student recruitment activities;

c. to provide professional development to promote the early college high school program, including cross-curriculum development between secondary and post-secondary education partners to ensure curriculum alignment that prepares students to succeed in college level courses while in high school;

d. academic and social support services to promote college readiness and a college-going culture;

e. transportation for students to take courses and participate in activities at the partner campus of the higher education partner; and

f. tuition, books and fees; provided however that tuition reimbursement shall only be allowable for non-remedial, credit-bearing college courses.

4. The commissioner shall make awards to eligible applicants for an approved early college high school program through a competitive request for proposals process. The funding cycle for this program shall be for five years commencing with the two thousand eighteen--two thousand nineteen academic year, with a new grant cycle commencing every five years. The program cycle shall be September first to August thirty-first annually.

a. The commissioner shall prioritize partnerships that demonstrate the willingness and capacity to serve students who have been identified as economically disadvantaged and/or academically at-risk for not successfully completing high school or not enrolling in or succeeding in college.

b. Priority shall also be given to early college high school programs that were funded by the department under a prior request for proposals process, based upon demonstration of successful student outcomes as determined by the commissioner in regulations.

5. Eligible institutions shall file an application for approval by the commissioner in a timeframe and manner prescribed by the commissioner, demonstrating a need for such funding, including how the funding would be used and how many students would be assisted with such funding. Successful applicants will be funded as provided in accordance with the request for proposals process.

6. No funds pursuant to this section shall be made available to support the regular academic programs of any institution participating in this program, nor shall funds be provided for programs which are incompatible with the regents plan for the expansion and development of higher education in this state.

§ 3. The education law is amended by adding a new section 6458 to read as follows:

§ 6458. Grant awards for pathways in technology early college high school (P-TECH) programs. 1. Subject to an appropriation, the commissioner shall allocate the funds available for P-TECH programs for the purposes of preparing eligible academically at-risk and/or economically disadvantaged students for high-skill jobs including, but not limited to those in science, technology, engineering, manufacturing, healthcare and finance through a six-year academic program that combines high school, college and career training.

2. For the purposes of this section:

a. "approved pathways in technology early college high school (P-TECH) program" means a New York state P-TECH program, approved by the commissioner in accordance with the regulations of the commissioner and the

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request for proposals process, which provides eligible students enrolled in such program with high school courses leading to the granting of a high school diploma and college-level courses leading to the granting of a post-secondary degree or diploma at a partnering college approved by the department and career training with an eligible partnering employer;

b. "eligible applicant" means a New York state school district, which must serve as the fiscal agent. The eligible applicant may work in cooperation with other school districts, a board of cooperative educational services, or any combination of these entities with a partnership that includes:

(i) one or more New York state not-for-profit higher education institutions provided that at least one institution offers an associate's degree (or other two-year degree that is the industry standard for the targeted jobs) linked to the goals of the approved P-TECH program, and which awards the degree at no cost to the student/family; and

(ii) a regional New York state employer (or consortium of employers from related sectors) and/or industry/entity/association that requires highly skilled employees which will utilize the knowledge and skills obtained from the secondary and post-secondary programs proposed under the application and agrees to place students who successfully complete the program first in line for a job; and

c. "eligible student" means a student who:

(i) is a resident of the school district, or a resident of a component district of a consortium applicant, in which the P-TECH program is located and is enrolled in such school district; and

(ii) is registered to attend such high school for the academic years for which the grant award is being sought.

3. Monies made available under this section shall be spent for the following purposes, as further prescribed by the commissioner in the request for proposals process:

a. existing evidence-based and/or standards based curriculum that focuses on a career in science, technology, engineering or math-related career area within a P-TECH program;

b. recruitment activities for eligible students;

c. to provide professional development to promote the P-TECH program, including cross-curriculum development between partners and to ensure curriculum alignment that prepares students to succeed in college level courses while in high school and during career training;

d. up to ten percent of funds awarded under this section may be used for eligible applicants to purchase equipment needed to upgrade existing programs or new equipment to start a program;

e. workshops and planning meetings between partners, including counselors, parents, and college faculty, and business leaders to support program sustainability and build awareness in the regions on the benefits of having such programs;

f. post-secondary curriculum development that facilitates alignment and articulation with secondary programs leading to college degrees and/or other industry recognized credentials that meet the needs of employers;

g. service contracts between members of the partnership;

h. transportation for eligible students to take courses and participate in activities at the partner campus of the higher education partner; and

i. tuition, books and fees; provided that tuition reimbursement shall only be allowable for non-remedial, credit-bearing college courses.

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4. The commissioner shall make grant awards to eligible applicants for an approved P-TECH program.

a. Funds must first be set aside for those approved P-TECH programs that were funded under the previous request for proposals process for any cohort of students in such program so they can obtain a cost-free associate's degree.

b. The commissioner may also make awards to eligible applicants for an approved P-TECH program through a competitive request for proposals process. The funding cycle for this program shall be for seven years commencing with the two thousand twenty-four--two thousand twenty-five academic year, subject to an appropriation, with a new grant cycle commencing every seven years.

c. The commissioner shall prioritize partnerships that demonstrate the willingness and capacity to serve students who have been identified as economically disadvantaged or academically disadvantaged and at-risk for not successfully completing high school or not enrolling in or succeeding in college.