2007-2008 Regular Session, New York State Assembly

February 12, 2007

5027

Introduced by Member of Assembly ESPAILLAT, multi-sponsored by Member of Assembly TITUS, an act to amend the education law, in relation to requiring certain school districts to establish for gifted pupils

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

Section 1: The education law is amended by adding a new section 4454 to read as follows:

     S4454: Gifted and talented program in cities with a population of one million or more. 

1. This section shall apply to every school district located in cities with a population of one million or more.  The school district shall establish a district-wide gifted and talented program for pupils who meet the criteria established in subdivision one of section forty-four hundred fifty-two of this article, and shall be responsible for ensuring that appropriate instructional adaptations are designed and delivered for such pupils.

2. The school district shall establish an ongoing identification process for gifted pupils initiated in kindergartend and reviewed annually through grade twelve.  The school district shall ensure that the identification methodology used is developmentally appropriate, non-discriminatory, and related to the programs and services offered.

3. The department shall provide each school district with curriculum frameworks which shall suggest a variety of activities and strategies that may assist in the development of local curricula for gifted pupils.  Such frameworks shall address adaptations that are educationally challenging for gifted pupils in core subject areas as identified by the department.

4. In addition, the school boards of each such school district shall encourage the active involvement of representatives from the community, business, industry, labor, and higher education in the development of the gifted and talented program.

     s2. This act shall take effect on the first of July next succeding the date on which it shall have become a law, provided, however, that the commissioner of education is authorized to promulgate any rules and regulations necessary for the effective implementation of this act on or before such date. 

*Note: As written this act would only relate to New York City School District!