File #: Int 0142-2024    Version: * Name: Requiring the department of education to conduct a biannual study on student access to home internet and electronic devices.
Type: Introduction Status: Committee
Committee: Committee on Education
On agenda: 2/28/2024
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring the department of education to conduct a biannual study on student access to home internet and electronic devices
Sponsors: Selvena N. Brooks-Powers, Rita C. Joseph, Tiffany Cabán, Farah N. Louis, Shaun Abreu, Shahana K. Hanif, Amanda Farías, Gale A. Brewer, Sandra Ung, Crystal Hudson, James F. Gennaro, Lincoln Restler, Nantasha M. Williams
Council Member Sponsors: 13
Summary: This bill would amend the administrative code, requiring the Department of Education to conduct a biannual survey, by school district, to collect data regarding students’ access to the Internet and electronic devices and how a lack of such access hinders students’ education. Additionally, the Department of Education would be required to include in the report recommendations on means to address students’ inability to access the Internet and electronic devices.
Indexes: Report Required
Attachments: 1. Summary of Int. No. 142, 2. Int. No. 142, 3. February 28, 2024 - Stated Meeting Agenda, 4. Hearing Transcript - Stated Meeting 2-28-24, 5. Minutes of the Stated Meeting - February 28, 2024

Int. No. 142

 

By Council Members Brooks-Powers, Joseph, Cabán, Louis, Abreu, Hanif, Farías, Brewer, Ung, Hudson, Gennaro, Restler and Williams

 

A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring the department of education to conduct a biannual study on student access to home internet and electronic devices

 

Be it enacted by the Council as follows:

 

Section 1. Title 21-A of the administrative code of the city of New York is amended adding a new chapter 30 to read as follows:

CHAPTER 30

STUDENT ACCESS TO HOME INTERNET AND ELECTRONIC DEVICES

§ 21-1001 Reporting on student access to home internet and electronic devices. a. Definitions. For the purposes of this section, the following terms have the following meanings:

Blended learning. The term “blended learning” means educational courses that occur through a combination of traditional, in-person classroom instruction and at-home instruction using electronic devices to connect students to teachers.

Electronic device. The term “electronic device” means a desktop computer, laptop, or tablet. 

Remote learning. The term “remote learning” means educational courses that occur exclusively through at-home instruction using electronic devices to connect students to teachers.

b. Beginning on January 1, 2025, and every two years thereafter, the department shall submit to the speaker of the council and post conspicuously on the department’s website a report regarding student access to home internet and electronic devices. Information for the report may be procured through means deemed appropriate by the department, including but not limited to surveys sent to the parents or guardians of students. The report shall include, but not be limited to, the following information for each school district:

1. The total enrollment;

2. The number of students who do not have internet access at home;

3. The number of students who do not have access to at least one personal electronic device at home;

4. The number of students utilizing remote or blended learning;

5. The number of students issued a department-owned electronic device;

6. An estimate of the percentage of assignments that require home internet access or home electronic devices; and

7. Information regarding student academic performance, including but not limited to, an analysis of how student scores received on state examinations are affected by access to internet and electronic devices.

c. The department shall include in the report recommendations on reducing the digital divide among students, including but not limited to, identifying means of improving student access to home internet and electronic devices.

d. No information that is otherwise required to be reported pursuant to this section shall be reported in a manner that would violate any applicable provision of federal, state, or local law relating to the privacy of student information or that would interfere with law enforcement investigations or otherwise conflict with the interests of law enforcement.

§ 2. This local law takes effect immediately.

Session 13

LS #10183

1/22/2024

 

Session 12

APM

LS #10183

2/7/2023