Source: https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2019/S1415
Timestamp: 2020-07-09 15:44:42
Document Index: 119409257

Matched Legal Cases: ['§2590', '§2590', '§ 5', '§ 2', '§ 3', '§ 2590', '§  4']

NY State Senate Bill S1415
senate Bill S1415
Relates to admission to a special high school in the city of New York
Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee New York City Education Committee
Get Status Alerts for S1415
Jan 08, 2020 referred to new york city education
Jan 15, 2019 committee discharged and committed to new york city education
Jan 14, 2019 referred to education
S1415 (ACTIVE) - Details
Senate New York City Education
Amd §§2590-h, add §2590-h-1, Ed L
2011-2012: S6589
2013-2014: S1827
2015-2016: S1787
2017-2018: S8503
S1415 (ACTIVE) - Summary
Relates to admission to a special high school in the city of New York.
S1415 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo
BILL NUMBER: S1415
An act to amend the education law, in relation to admission to the
specialized high schools in the city of New York
The purpose of this bill is to allow special high schools in cities with
a population of one million or more to establish standards for admission
to designated specialized high schools
Section 1. Subdivision 4 of section 2590-g of the education law is
4. Provided, further, the city board shall establish procedures and
standards for the admission to the special high schools of the city
district, including the grade point averages of applicants, personal
statements of interest submitted by applicants and such other factors as
the city board shall determine to be necessary.
2. Subdivision 2 of section 2590-g of the education law is amended to
read as follows: Provided further, the city board shall establish proce-
dures and standards for the admission to the special high schools of the
city district including the grade point averages of applicants, personal
statements of interest submitted by the applicants and such other
factors as the city board shall determine to be necessary
§ 5. This act shall take effect on the first of April next succeeding
the date on which it shall have become a law, except that sections two
and four of this act shall take effect on the same date as sections
2590-g-end 2509-h of the education law expire and revert pursuant to
chapter 354 of the laws of 2009, as amended, when upon such date
sections one and three of this act shall be deemed repealed, provided,
further, that effective immediately any actions necessary to implement
Students seeking admission into one of New York City specialized high
schools must take the SHSAT. The results of this exam are the only
factor considered for student admission, not grade point average, writ-
ten statements or letters of recommendation. It is astounding that these
high schools can use such antiquated measures of evaluation. Methods
that research proves are not accurate measures of student performance,
capability or intellect. The MAT is a snap shot of the student and more
accurately measures their test taking ability than their worthiness of
admission into NYC elite public high schools. Furthermore, using this
test as the sole basis for admission further exacerbates the racial gap
persistent in the enrollment of these schools. Combined white and Asian
students account for 70 percent of the students admitted to these
schools, conversely Black and Hispanic children make up 72 percent of
citywide enrollment in the public school system but only account for 11
percent of the student enrollment at these institutions. Research has
consistently shown that minorities perform worse on standardized test
than their white counterparts.
However, these students are no less capable or intelligent. There has
been much research dedicated to the racial gap in standardized testing,
it exists. Our elite colleges and universities use other measures in
addition to the SAT for admission. It is only logical that New York City
stop relying on the test only for admission and formulate a more common
sense policy.
2013-2014: S.1827/A.4204A - Referred to Education
2011-2012:  S.9064/A9064 - Referred to Education
2015-2016: S.1787/A.6379A - Referred to Education
2017-2018: S8503A-Referred to Education
date on which it shall have become a law, except that sections two and
four of this act shall take effect on the same date as sections 2590-g
and 2509-h of the education law expire and revert pursuant to chapter
354 of the laws of 2009, as amended, when upon such date sections one
and three of this act shall be deemed repealed, provided, further, that
effective immediately any actions necessary to implement the provisions
of this act on its effective date are authorized and directed to be
S1415 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf
AN ACT to amend the education law,  in  relation  to  admission  to  the
Section 1.  Paragraph (b) of subdivision 1 of section  2590-h  of  the
education law, as amended by chapter 345 of the laws of 2009, is amended
(b)  all  specialized [senior] high schools. The [special] SPECIALIZED
high schools shall include the [present] schools known as[:]
The Bronx High School of Science,  Stuyvesant  High  School,  Brooklyn
Technical  High  School, Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music [and
the Arts in the borough of Manhattan] & ART  AND  PERFORMING  ARTS,  and
such  [further]  ADDITIONAL schools [which the city board may designate]
AS MAY BE DESIGNATED BY THE CHANCELLOR from time to time. The  [special]
SPECIALIZED  HIGH  schools  shall  be  permitted to maintain a discovery
program in accordance with the law in effect on the date  preceding  the
effective  date  of  this  section; PROVIDED THAT THE REQUIREMENT THAT A
STUDENT WHO IS CONSIDERED FOR THE DISCOVERY PROGRAM ATTEND  AND  PASS  A
PREPARATORY  PROGRAM ADMINISTERED BY THE SPECIALIZED HIGH SCHOOL, DEMON-
STRATING THEREBY HIS OR  HER  ABILITY  TO  SUCCESSFULLY  COPE  WITH  THE
SPECIALIZED  HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM, SHALL REFER TO A PROGRAM THAT CAN TAKE
PLACE DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR OR THE SUMMER; admissions to the  [special]
SPECIALIZED  HIGH schools shall be conducted in accordance with [the law
in effect on the date preceding the  effective  date  of  this]  section
TWENTY-FIVE HUNDRED NINETY-H-L OF THIS ARTICLE;
§ 2. Paragraph (b) of subdivision 1 of section 2590-h of the education
law,  as  amended by chapter 720 of the laws of 1996, is amended to read
LBD00037-02-9
S. 1415                             2
(b) all specialized [senior] high schools. The  [special]  SPECIALIZED
The  Bronx  High  School  of Science, Stuyvesant High School, Brooklyn
Technical High School, Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of  Music  [and
the  Arts  in  the  borough of Manhattan] & ART AND PERFORMING ARTS, and
such [further] ADDITIONAL schools [which the city board  may  designate]
AS  MAY BE DESIGNATED BY THE CHANCELLOR from time to time. The [special]
SPECIALIZED HIGH schools shall be  permitted  to  maintain  a  discovery
program  in  accordance with the law in effect on the date preceding the
effective date of this section; PROVIDED THAT  THE  REQUIREMENT  THAT  A
STUDENT  WHO  IS  CONSIDERED FOR THE DISCOVERY PROGRAM ATTEND AND PASS A
PREPARATORY PROGRAM ADMINISTERED BY THE SPECIALIZED HIGH SCHOOL,  DEMON-
STRATING  THEREBY  HIS  OR  HER  ABILITY  TO  SUCCESSFULLY COPE WITH THE
SPECIALIZED HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM, SHALL REFER TO A PROGRAM THAT CAN  TAKE
PLACE  DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR OR THE SUMMER; admissions to the [special]
SPECIALIZED HIGH schools shall be conducted in accordance with [the  law
in  effect  on  the  date  preceding the effective date of this] section
TWENTY-FIVE HUNDRED NINETY-H-1 OF THIS ARTICLE;
§ 3. The education law is amended by adding a new section 2590-h-1  to
§ 2590-H-1. ADMISSIONS TO THE SPECIALIZED HIGH SCHOOLS.  1. ADMISSIONS
TO  THE  SPECIALIZED  HIGH SCHOOLS SHALL BE CONDUCTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH
THIS SECTION, PROVIDED  THAT  STUDENTS  MAY  ALSO  BE  ADMITTED  TO  THE
SPECIALIZED HIGH SCHOOLS FOR THE TWO THOUSAND TWENTY--TWO THOUSAND TWEN-
TY-ONE  AND  THE TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-ONE--TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-TWO SCHOOL
YEARS PURSUANT TO THE DISCOVERY PROGRAM AS SET FORTH IN SECTION  TWENTY-
FIVE HUNDRED NINETY-H OF THIS ARTICLE.
2.  FOR THE ADMISSIONS PROCESS CONDUCTED DURING THE TWO THOUSAND NINE-
TEEN--TWO THOUSAND TWENTY SCHOOL YEAR TO  DETERMINE  ADMISSIONS  TO  THE
TY-ONE  SCHOOL  YEAR,  STUDENTS  WHO MEET THE CRITERIA SET FORTH IN THIS
SUBDIVISION SHALL BE OFFERED ADMISSION TO THE SPECIALIZED  HIGH  SCHOOLS
(A)  STUDENTS ATTENDING PUBLIC SCHOOLS LOCATED IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK
WHO ARE IN THE TOP THREE PERCENT OF THEIR EIGHTH GRADE CLASS, AS  CALCU-
LATED  BASED  ON  MULTIPLE  MEASURES  OF STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT PURSUANT TO
SUBDIVISION FIVE OF THIS SECTION, AND  WHO  ACHIEVE  A  COMPOSITE  SCORE
ABOVE  OR  AT  THE  CUT-OFF COMPOSITE SCORE FOR THE SCHOOL SUCH STUDENTS
HAVE COMMITTED THEMSELVES TO ATTEND, PURSUANT  TO  SUBDIVISION  FIVE  OF
THIS  SECTION,  PROVIDED  THAT  SUCH STUDENTS SHALL ALSO RANK IN THE TOP
QUARTER OF PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS IN THE EIGHTH GRADE CITYWIDE BASED  ON
SUCH MULTIPLE MEASURES OF STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT, AND PROVIDED FURTHER THAT
OPENINGS  SHALL  BE  RESERVED FOR SUCH STUDENTS AT EACH SPECIALIZED HIGH
SCHOOL AS SET FORTH IN SUBDIVISION SEVEN OF THIS SECTION;
(B) STUDENTS IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK WHO TAKE A COMPETITIVE, OBJECTIVE
AND SCHOLASTIC ACHIEVEMENT EXAMINATION IN THE EIGHTH GRADE AND ACHIEVE A
SCORE ABOVE OR AT THE CUT-OFF SCORE FOR THE OPENINGS THAT REMAIN IN  THE
SCHOOL FOR WHICH SUCH STUDENTS HAVE TAKEN THE EXAMINATION; AND
(C) STUDENTS IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK WHO TAKE A COMPETITIVE, OBJECTIVE
AND  SCHOLASTIC EXAMINATION IN THE NINTH GRADE AND ACHIEVE A SCORE ABOVE
OR AT THE CUT-OFF SCORE FOR THE OPENINGS THAT REMAIN IN THE  SCHOOL  FOR
WHICH SUCH STUDENTS HAVE TAKEN THE EXAMINATION.
3.  FOR THE ADMISSIONS PROCESS CONDUCTED DURING THE TWO THOUSAND TWEN-
TY--TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-ONE SCHOOL YEAR TO DETERMINE ADMISSIONS  TO  THE
SPECIALIZED  HIGH  SCHOOLS FOR THE TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-ONE--TWO THOUSAND
TWENTY-TWO SCHOOL YEAR, STUDENTS WHO MEET THE CRITERIA SET FORTH IN THIS
S. 1415                             3
WHO ARE IN THE TOP FIVE PERCENT OF THEIR EIGHTH GRADE CLASS,  AS  CALCU-
HAVE COMMITTED THEMSELVES TO ATTEND PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION FIVE OF THIS
SECTION, PROVIDED THAT SUCH STUDENTS SHALL ALSO RANK IN THE TOP  QUARTER
OF  PUBLIC  SCHOOL  STUDENTS  IN THE EIGHTH GRADE CITYWIDE BASED ON SUCH
MULTIPLE MEASURES OF STUDENT  ACHIEVEMENT,  AND  PROVIDED  FURTHER  THAT
4.  FOR THE ADMISSIONS PROCESS CONDUCTED DURING THE TWO THOUSAND TWEN-
TY-ONE--TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-TWO SCHOOL YEAR AND SUBSEQUENT SCHOOL  YEARS
TO  DETERMINE  ADMISSIONS  TO  THE  SPECIALIZED HIGH SCHOOLS FOR THE TWO
THOUSAND TWENTY-TWO--TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-THREE SCHOOL  YEAR  AND  SUBSE-
QUENT  SCHOOL  YEARS,  STUDENTS  WHO MEET THE CRITERIA SET FORTH IN THIS
WHO ARE IN THE TOP FIVE TO SEVEN PERCENT OF THEIR  EIGHTH  GRADE  CLASS,
SUCH  PERCENTAGE TO BE DETERMINED TO ALLOW OPENINGS TO REMAIN FOR ADMIS-
SION PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPH (B) OF THIS  SUBDIVISION  AND  AS  CALCULATED
BASED  ON  MULTIPLE  MEASURES  OF STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT, DETERMINED AS SET
FORTH IN SUBDIVISION FIVE OF THIS SECTION, AND WHO ACHIEVE  A  COMPOSITE
SCORE  ABOVE  OR  AT  THE  CUT-OFF  COMPOSITE  SCORE FOR THE SCHOOL SUCH
STUDENTS HAVE COMMITTED THEMSELVES TO ATTEND, DETERMINED AS SET FORTH IN
SUBDIVISION FIVE OF THIS SECTION, PROVIDED THAT SUCH STUDENTS SHALL ALSO
RANK IN THE TOP QUARTER OF PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS IN  THE  EIGHTH  GRADE
CITYWIDE  BASED  ON  SUCH  MULTIPLE MEASURES OF STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT, AND
PROVIDED FURTHER THAT OPENINGS SHALL BE RESERVED FOR  SUCH  STUDENTS  AT
EACH  SPECIALIZED  HIGH SCHOOL AS SET FORTH IN SUBDIVISION SEVEN OF THIS
(B) STUDENTS IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK WHO HAVE A  MINIMUM  GRADE  POINT
AVERAGE  OF  3.7,  PROVIDED  SUCH STUDENTS SHALL BE ADMITTED BY A RANDOM
SELECTION PROCESS FOR THE OPENINGS THAT REMAIN IN EACH SCHOOL.
5. THE CHANCELLOR SHALL DETERMINE THE  MULTIPLE  MEASURES  OF  STUDENT
ACHIEVEMENT  AS  REFERENCED IN THIS SECTION, AND THE WEIGHT OF EACH SUCH
MEASURE, PROVIDED THAT  SUCH  MEASURES  SHALL  INCLUDE  ACADEMIC  COURSE
GRADES  AND STANDARDIZED TEST SCORES. A DESCRIPTION OF SUCH MEASURES AND
THE WEIGHT ACCORDED TO EACH SHALL BE MADE PUBLICLY AVAILABLE,  INCLUDING
ON  THE  WEBSITE OF THE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT. A STUDENT WHO IS EVALUATED
BASED ON SUCH MEASURES FOR THE PURPOSES OF  THIS  SUBDIVISION  SHALL  BE
ASSIGNED  A  COMPOSITE  SCORE BASED ON SUCH WEIGHTED MEASURES. OFFERS OF
ADMISSION TO THE SPECIALIZED HIGH SCHOOLS PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPHS (A)  OF
SUBDIVISIONS  TWO  THROUGH  FOUR  OF THIS SECTION SHALL BE DETERMINED BY
ARRANGING THE COMPOSITE SCORES OF ALL STUDENTS  WHO  ARE  ASSIGNED  SUCH
S. 1415                             4
SCORES AND WHO THEN COMMIT THEMSELVES TO ATTEND A PARTICULAR SPECIALIZED
HIGH SCHOOL IN DESCENDING ORDER FROM THE HIGHEST SCORE AND COUNTING DOWN
TO  THE  CUT-OFF  COMPOSITE SCORE, WHICH SHALL BE THE COMPOSITE SCORE OF
THE LAST STUDENT WHO RECEIVES AN OFFER OF ADMISSION TO SUCH SCHOOL BASED
ON  THE  NUMBER  OF  OPENINGS  AVAILABLE IN SUCH SCHOOL PURSUANT TO SUCH
6. OFFERS OF ADMISSION TO THE SPECIALIZED  HIGH  SCHOOLS  PURSUANT  TO
PARAGRAPHS  (B)  AND  (C)  OF SUBDIVISIONS TWO AND THREE OF THIS SECTION
SHALL BE DETERMINED BY ARRANGING THE SCORES OF ALL  THE  CANDIDATES  WHO
TOOK  THE COMPETITIVE, OBJECTIVE AND SCHOLASTIC EXAMINATION AND WHO THEN
COMMIT THEMSELVES TO ATTEND A  PARTICULAR  SPECIALIZED  HIGH  SCHOOL  IN
DESCENDING ORDER FROM THE HIGHEST SCORE AND COUNTING DOWN TO THE CUT-OFF
SCORE,  WHICH  SHALL  BE THE SCORE OF THE LAST CANDIDATE WHO RECEIVES AN
OFFER OF ADMISSION TO SUCH SCHOOL BASED ON THE NUMBER OF OPENINGS AVAIL-
ABLE IN SUCH SCHOOL.
7. THE NUMBER OF OPENINGS RESERVED AT EACH SPECIALIZED HIGH SCHOOL FOR
STUDENTS WHO MEET THE CRITERIA SET FORTH IN PARAGRAPHS (A)  OF  SUBDIVI-
SIONS  TWO THROUGH FOUR OF THIS SECTION SHALL BE DETERMINED BY MULTIPLY-
ING: (A) THE TOTAL NUMBER OF NINTH  GRADE  AVAILABLE  OPENINGS  AT  SUCH
SCHOOL; BY (B) THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS WHO MEET THE CRITERIA SET FORTH IN
PARAGRAPHS  (A) OF SUBDIVISIONS TWO THROUGH FOUR OF THIS SECTION DIVIDED
BY THE AGGREGATE NUMBER OF NINTH GRADE AVAILABLE  OPENINGS  IN  ALL  THE
SPECIALIZED HIGH SCHOOLS.
8.  NOTWITHSTANDING  ANY  PROVISION  TO THE CONTRARY, ADMISSION TO THE
FIORELLO H.  LAGUARDIA HIGH SCHOOL OF MUSIC & ART AND  PERFORMING  ARTS,
AND  OTHER  SCHOOLS  OF  THE  ARTS  THAT  MAY BE ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO
SECTION TWENTY-FIVE HUNDRED NINETY-H OF THIS ARTICLE,  SHALL  BE  DETER-
MINED BY A STUDENT'S DEMONSTRATED ABILITIES IN MUSIC OR THE ARTS AS WELL
AS SUCH STUDENT'S SCHOLASTIC ACHIEVEMENT.
§  4.  This act shall take effect immediately; provided, however, that
the amendments to paragraph (b) of subdivision 1 of  section  2590-h  of
the  education  law  made by section one of this act shall be subject to
the expiration and reversion of such section pursuant to subdivision  12
of  section  17 of chapter 345 of the laws of 2009, as amended when upon
such date the provisions of section two of this act shall take effect.
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