What's happening
This bill delays annual English language proficiency assessments for bilingual or ESL students until after three consecutive years in such programs.
Why it matters
Reduces early academic pressure. on bilingual and ESL students by giving them three years to build English proficiency before being tested, which may help ease adjustment and foster confidence in new learners.
Shifts focus to long-term language development. rather than immediate results, potentially allowing teaching methods to prioritize foundational learning over test preparation in the early years.
Delays data collection on English proficiency progress. , which could impact how schools identify students needing additional support or when to transition students out of specialized programs.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Delay English Testing for Students
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-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.
Delay English Testing for ESL
In Assembly Committee · Education · Sponsor Nily Rozic
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3342
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
February 5, 2019
Introduced by Sen. RAMOS -- 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 administration of language assessment instruments to students receiving a program of bilingual education or English as a second language
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Paragraph 3 of subdivision 2-a of section 3204 of the education law, as added by chapter 827 of the laws of 1982, is amended to read as follows:
3. Eligibility for such programs shall be based on the following criteria. A pupil who by reason of foreign birth or ancestry speaks a language other than English, and either understands and speaks little or no English, or who has been identified by any English language assessment instrument approved by the commissioner as a pupil of limited English proficiency, shall receive a program of bilingual education or English as a second language in accordance with standards established by the commissioner. [A] Such pupil's proficiency in the English language shall be measured [annually] by [such] a language assessment instrument after the pupil has been enrolled in a program of bilingual education or English as a second language for a period of three consecutive school years and annually thereafter in order to determine further participation in bilingual education or English as a second language program in accordance with standards established by the commissioner, subject to the provisions of subdivision two of this section. The parent or guardian of a pupil designated as limited English proficient shall be informed by the local school authorities of the pupil's placement in an instructional program.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00984-01-9
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 administration of language assessment instruments to students receiving a program of bilingual education or English as a second language
Purpose
To lengthen the amount of time that students will have to learn English as a second language from 1 year to 3 years.
Summary of provisions
Section I amends paragraph 3 of subdivision 2-a of section 3204 of the education law to change eligibility criteria for language assessments.
Section II sets forth the effective date.
Justification
Studies have indicated that children are able to learn a new language within 2 or 3 years of instruction. Currently, new pupils of foreign birth are administered the English Language Arts Exam and are held to the same standards as English-speaking students after only 1 year of bilingual education. As the existing law stands, a student's English language proficiency is measured on an annual basis, without accounting for the amount of time they have had to learn English when it is not their first language. This bill would allow students who speak little to no English, an opportunity to learn the English language for a period of 3 school years before their proficiency is assessed.
Legislative history
2019: A.2269 (Rozic) - Referred to Education 2017-2018: A01290 (Rozic) - Referred to Education 2015-2016: A00193 (Rozic) - Referred to Education 2014: A08686 (Rozic) - Referred to Education 2012-2013: A03662 (Espinal) - Referred to Education
Fiscal impact on the state
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.