File #: Int 1057-2024    Version: * Name: Student journalism programming at the city’s high schools.
Type: Introduction Status: Committee
Committee: Committee on Education
On agenda: 9/26/2024
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to student journalism programming at the city's high schools
Sponsors: Rita C. Joseph, Chi A. Ossé, Shahana K. Hanif, Mercedes Narcisse, Selvena N. Brooks-Powers, Kevin C. Riley, Jennifer Gutiérrez, Lincoln Restler, Lynn C. Schulman, Sandy Nurse, Shekar Krishnan, Crystal Hudson, Farah N. Louis, Joann Ariola
Council Member Sponsors: 14
Summary: This bill would require the Department of Education (“DOE”) to issue an annual report on journalism courses, journalism clubs, and student publications available at each DOE high school during the preceding school year. DOE would be required to submit the report to the Mayor and the Speaker of the Council and publish the report on the DOE website. High schools would be required to distribute information to students regarding the availability of journalism courses, journalism clubs, and student publications at the beginning of the school year.
Indexes: Report Required
Attachments: 1. Summary of Int. No. 1057, 2. Int. No. 1057, 3. September 26, 2024 - Stated Meeting Agenda, 4. Hearing Transcript - Stated Meeting 9-26-24

Int. No. 1057

 

By Council Members Joseph, Ossé, Hanif, Narcisse, Brooks-Powers, Riley, Gutiérrez, Restler, Schulman, Nurse, Krishnan, Hudson, Louis and Ariola

 

A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to student journalism programming at the city’s high schools

 

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 by adding a new chapter 35 to read as follows:

CHAPTER 35

STUDENT JOURNALISM PROGRAMMING

§ 21-1006 Student journalism programming in high schools. a. Definitions. For the purposes of this chapter, the following terms have the following meanings:

High school. The term “high school” means a school of the city school district of the city of New York that contains any combination of grades from grade 9 through grade 12.

Journalism club. The term “journalism club” means a student organization with a faculty advisor that primarily operates outside of school hours, with a focus on journalism, media production, broadcasting, or publishing.

Journalism course. The term “journalism course” means a credit-bearing class taught by an instructor during school hours with a focus on journalism, media production, broadcasting, or publishing.

Student publication. The term “student publication” means a printed or electronic publication produced by students that exhibits student work at least once per semester, is accessible to the student body, and is overseen by faculty advisor.

b. By August 31 of each year, the chancellor shall submit to the mayor and the speaker of the council and shall post conspicuously on the department’s website an annual report regarding student journalism programming in the city’s high schools that was available during the previous school year.

c. For each high school, the annual report required by subdivision b of this section must include the following information, as well as any additional information the department deems appropriate:

1. The number and name of journalism courses offered;

2. The number and percentage of students who completed a journalism course, disaggregated by:

(a) Grade level;

(b) Race or ethnicity;

(c) Gender;

(d) Special education status;

(e) English language learner status; and

(f) Primary home language;

3. The number of full-time and part-time instructors who teach a journalism course at the school;

4. The ratio of full-time instructors who teach a journalism course at the school to students in the school;

5. The number and name of journalism clubs offered;

6. The number and percentage of students who were a member of a journalism club, disaggregated by:

(a) Grade level;

(b) Race or ethnicity;

(c) Gender;

(d) Special education status;

(e) English language learner status; and

(f) Primary home language;

7. The number of full-time and part-time staff serving as faculty advisor to a journalism club at the school;

8. The ratio of full-time staff serving as faculty advisor to a journalism club at the school to students in the school;

9. The number, name, and format of student publications;

10. The number and percentage of students who participated in a student publication, disaggregated by:

(a) Grade level;

(b) Race or ethnicity;

(c) Gender;

(d) Special education status;

(e) English language learner status; and

(f) Primary home language;

11. The number of full-time and part-time staff serving as faculty advisor to a student publication; and

12. The ratio of full-time staff serving as faculty advisor to a student publication to students at the school.

d. For each high school that does not offer a journalism course, the annual report required by subdivision b of this section must include the following information, as well as any additional information the department deems appropriate:

1. The number of instructors on staff who would be suitable to teach a journalism course; and

2. The financial and administrative resources needed to offer a journalism course.

e. For each high school that does not offer a journalism club, the annual report required by subdivision b of this section must include the following information, as well as any additional information the department deems appropriate:

1. The number of staff who would be suitable to serve as faculty advisor to a journalism club; and

2. The financial and administrative resources needed to offer a journalism club.

f. For each high school that does not offer a student publication, the annual report required by subdivision b of this section must include the following information, as well as any additional information the department deems appropriate:

1. The number of staff who would be suitable to serve as faculty advisor to a student publication; and

2. The financial and administrative resources needed to offer a student publication.

g. The report required by subdivision b of this section must include a data dictionary.

h. Information required to be reported pursuant to this section may not 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. If a category contains between 1 and 5 students, or contains an amount that would allow another category that contains between 1 and 5 students to be deduced, the number must be replaced with a symbol. A category that contains zero must be reported as zero, unless such reporting would violate any applicable provision of federal, state, or local law relating to the privacy of student information.

§ 21-1007 Distribution of information regarding student journalism programming. At the start of each school year, the chancellor shall ensure that each high school distributes to each student information on journalism courses, journalism clubs, and student publications offered at such school and how to enroll in a journalism course, become a member of a journalism club, or participate in a student publication offered at such school. Distribution of such information to students may be in hard copy or electronic if distribution of other similar information occurs electronically. The chancellor shall also post such information conspicuously on the department’s website.

§ 2. This local law takes effect 60 days after it becomes law.

AM

LS #14043

7/24/2024