What's happening
This bill makes individualized education program (IEP) diplomas equivalent to high school diplomas for employment eligibility in New York.
Why it matters
Expands job opportunities for individuals with disabilities. by ensuring that IEP diplomas, often awarded to students with special needs, cannot legally be used to disqualify them from jobs requiring a high school diploma.
Reduces barriers to workforce entry. for people who may have followed non-traditional educational paths, potentially improving long-term employment rates and economic independence among disabled New Yorkers.
Signals to employers and state agencies. that IEP diplomas carry official recognition, which may shift hiring practices and reduce discrimination or misunderstandings about the value of these diplomas.
Supports educational equity. by affirming that different paths to graduation should not limit a person's future prospects, aligning state law with broader efforts at inclusion and equal opportunity.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Special Ed Diploma Counts
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 38
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to education
- Referred to education
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3890
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
February 20, 2019
Introduced by Sen. CARLUCCI -- 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 individualized education program diploma equivalency
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 115 to read as follows:
§ 115. Individualized education program diploma equivalency. Notwithstanding any law, rule, regulation or agreement to the contrary, whenever a high school diploma is required for employment in the state of New York as a minimum requirement for employment, an individualized education program diploma shall be considered the equivalent of such high school diploma.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD10021-01-9
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 individualized education program diploma equivalency
Purpose or general idea of bill
Allows the Individualized Education Program or IEP diploma to be accepted whenever a high school diploma or GED is required for employ- ment.
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1 amends the education law by adding a new section 115 to allow for the acceptance of an IEP diploma whenever a high school diploma or GED is required for employment.
Section 2 of the bill provides for an immediate effective date.
Justification
Individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in high school have the opportunity to earn an IEP diploma, yet they are disad- vantaged when looking for employment. Though the IEP Diploma recognizes a student's achievement based on their IEP, this diploma is not fully recognized by employers on applications for employment. This situation severely impacts those individuals with IEP diplomas, even though they can complete many tasks in the work place. Further, it leaves many of these individuals unemployed or underemployed. This bill will help to relieve the disadvantage of an IEP diploma and would help individuals with developmental disabilities get meaningful employment.
Fiscal implications
To be determined.
Effective date
Immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.