File #: Int 1924-2020    Version: * Name: DOE to report on implementing a universal preparation and exam for specialized high schools.
Type: Introduction Status: Filed (End of Session)
Committee: Committee on Education
On agenda: 4/22/2020
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: A Local Law in relation to requiring the department of education to report on implementing a universal preparation and exam for specialized high schools
Sponsors: Ben Kallos, Justin L. Brannan, Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, Robert E. Cornegy, Jr., James G. Van Bramer, Margaret S. Chin, Deborah L. Rose, Alicka Ampry-Samuel , Fernando Cabrera , Adrienne E. Adams, Rafael Salamanca, Jr., Robert F. Holden, Peter A. Koo, Karen Koslowitz, Helen K. Rosenthal, Paul A. Vallone, Vanessa L. Gibson, Barry S. Grodenchik, Mark Gjonaj , I. Daneek Miller, Keith Powers , Alan N. Maisel, Diana I. Ayala, Ydanis A. Rodriguez, Farah N. Louis, Joseph C. Borelli, Eric A. Ulrich
Council Member Sponsors: 27
Summary: This bill would require the department of education (DOE) to create a plan to provide specialized high school admissions test (SHSAT) preparation to all 7th and 8th grade students, in addition to administering the exam to all 7th and 8th grade students on a school day. It would also require the DOE to create an after school program to provide SHSAT prep after-school to NYC students above and beyond the DOE Dream program, which is offered in summer and on Saturdays.
Indexes: Sunset Date Applies
Attachments: 1. Summary of Int. No. 1924, 2. Int. No. 1924, 3. April 22, 2020 - Stated Meeting Agenda with Links to Files, 4. Hearing Transcript - Stated Meeting 4-22-20, 5. Minutes of the Stated Meeting - April 22, 2020

Int. No. 1924

 

By Council Members Kallos, Brannan, the Public Advocate (Mr. Williams), Cornegy, Van Bramer, Chin, Rose, Ampry-Samuel, Cabrera, Adams, Salamanca, Holden, Koo, Koslowitz, Rosenthal, Vallone, Gibson, Grodenchik, Gjonaj, Miller, Powers, Maisel, Ayala, Rodriguez, Louis, Borelli and Ulrich

 

A Local Law in relation to requiring the department of education to report on implementing a universal preparation and exam for specialized high schools

 

Be it enacted by the Council as follows:

 

Section 1. Universal specialized high schools admissions test preparation plan. a. Definitions. For the purposes of this section, the following terms have the following meanings:

Department. The term “department” means the department of education.

Dream program. The term “dream program” means the department of education Saturday and summer academic program that prepares eligible seventh grade New York City public school students to take the specialized high schools admissions test in the eighth grade.

School. The term “school” means a school of the city school district of the city of New York.

b. No later than 180 days after the effective date of this local law, the department shall submit to the speaker of the council, and post conspicuously on the department’s website, a report regarding its efforts to implement a universal specialized high schools admissions test preparation plan for all middle school students in the next two years. Such report shall:

1. Describe the steps the department will take to have the specialized high schools admissions test administered in every middle school during the school day;

2. Include a list of all middle schools disaggregated by (i) those that offer the dream program; (ii) those that do not and (iii) those that offer the specialized high schools admissions test on a school day during the school year. The department shall also include the total number of students that participated in the dream program at each middle school and the total number of students that took the specialized high schools admissions test at each middle school;

3. Describe the steps the department will take to expand the dream program to provide automatic access to all seventh grade students that wish to partake in such program;

4. Include a list of specialized high schools admissions test preparation programs that are offered in schools, disaggregated by (i) those that are free of charge; (ii) those that have a cost associated with such program and (iii) what time of year such program is offered. The department shall also include, to the extent such information is available, how many students participated in such programs and which school such students attend;

5. Describe the steps the department will take to create an after school program to prepare seventh grade New York City public school students to take the specialized high schools admissions test in the eighth grade;

6. Describe steps the department will take to coordinate with the department of youth and community development to ensure all department of youth and community development after school programs have test preparation programs to prepare seventh grade New York City public school students to take the specialized high schools admissions test;

7. Include a plan to recruit underrepresented students to take the specialized high schools admissions test;

8. Describe the steps the department will take to ensure that every seventh and eighth grade student will have the necessary preparation materials to take the specialized high schools admissions test, including making such preparation materials available in the designated citywide languages as defined in section 23-1101 and shall include an opt-out to enable a student to not have to take the specialized high schools admissions test;

9. Provide a cost estimate for implementing such preparation plan;

10. Identify barriers, if any, to the department’s ability to implement a universal specialized high schools admissions test preparation plan;

11. The average scores for the state of New York English language arts and mathematics tests, disaggregated by grades 7 and 8 for the prior academic year;

12. The number of students, disaggregated by race or ethnicity, gender, special education status, and English language status, who have taken the specialized high schools admissions test for the prior academic year;

13. The number of students, disaggregated by race or ethnicity, gender, special education status, and English language status, accepted to each specialized high school for the prior academic year; And

14. The total cost to the department to implement a universal specialized high schools admissions test preparation plan. Such total cost shall also be disaggregated by  

c. No later than December 1, 2020, the department shall develop a student survey to assess the general awareness and preparedness of students for to take the specialized high schools admissions test. The department shall make such survey available to all students taking the specialized high schools admissions test. The department shall ensure that each such student is advised that such survey is not mandatory or required as part of such student’s academic career. In addition, such survey shall include questions, that may be completed in full or in part, at the discretion of the student respondent, including race, ethnicity, gender, first language and family income. The department shall use such survey to assess students regarding the following:

(1) Whether such student attended a public school, private school or charter school prior to admittance to a specialized high school;

(2) Whether such student took test preparation in advance of taking the specialized high schools admissions test, whether such preparation was administered by the department of education and if such preparation was not administered by the department, then how such student prepared;

(3) Whether such student took practice exams and how many;

(4) How such student was made aware of the specialized high schools admissions test;

(5) How prepared such student felt in taking the specialized high schools admissions test; and

(6) Any other such questions the department may designate.

§ 2. This local law takes effect immediately and is deemed repealed upon submission of the report required pursuant to section one of this local law.

 

 

 

 

 

MMB

LS # 6013/ LS # 12,373

3/11/20; 11:01 a.m.