Int. No. 553
By Council Members Eugene, Chin, Deutsch, Espinal, Gibson, Koo, Mendez, Rodriguez, Cumbo and Lancman
A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring bilingual after-school programs.
Be it enacted by the Council as follows:
Section 1. Chapter 4 of title 21 of the administrative code of the city of New York is amended by adding a new section 21-404 to read as follows:
§ 21-404 Bilingual after-school programs. a. Definitions. For the purposes of this section the following terms shall have the following meanings:
1. “After-school program” means recreational, educational or cultural programs provided by the department or a provider under contract or similar agreement with the department meeting on a daily basis for less than 24 hours a day and providing care for five or more enrolled children between the ages of 6 and 18 years on a year-round or perennial basis. Such programs shall include but not be limited to programs operated by settlement houses, community or religious schools, and other similar public and private organizations, firms, groups and associations;
2. “English-language learner” means students who speak a language other than English at home and score below proficient on English assessments administered when such students enter the department of education school system. b. For all after-school programs located in school districts where more than one-third of the total number of students in such school districts are English-language learners, the department shall require that such programs have bilingual components, including but not limited to, bilingual instructors and staff, and activities conducted in native languages of the students. Such components shall be provided in the top two most commonly spoken native languages, other than English, of the students of such programs.
§ 2. This local law shall take effect immediately upon its enactment into law.
AV
LS 2776
11/13/14