BILL NUMBER: S4264
SPONSOR: KAVANAGH
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the education law, in relation to requiring the adminis-
tration of the TASC examination in the Chinese and Korean languages for
pupils who are proficient in such languages and of limited English
proficiency
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
To provide pupils, who are proficient in. the Chinese or Korean
language, the option to receive instructions in preparation for the Test
Assessing Secondary Completion ("TASC") examination, and take the exam-
ination in such languages.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
The education law is amended by adding a new section 3204-a. The Commis-
sioner of New York State Department of Education shall require each
Board of Education within its province, including the New York City
Department of Education, to make the TASC examination available in the
Chinese or Korean language for pupils proficient in it. The Commissioner
of New York State Department of Education shall also make any instruc-
tional courses or programs for the preparation of the TASC examination
available in the Chinese or Korean language.
 
JUSTIFICATION:.
While learning to read, write and converse in English is a collective
and laudable goal for many pupils in the United States, standardized
testing may be unnecessarily challenging for those who have yet to
achieve a mastery of the English language. This legislation provides the
opportunity for pupils to demonstrate their aptitude in subjects such as
social studies, science and math without the impediment of a lack of
proficiency in the English language. Currently, the TASC examination and
its study materials are only offered in English, Spanish and French.
By expanding access of the TASC examination to pupils proficient in the
Chinese and Korean language, it will accommodate the growing population
of Chinese and Korean speakers in the state of New York who may seek
TASC credentials.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2024: S2081 (Kavanagh) / A727 (Rozic) - REFERRED TO EDUCATION/referred
to education
2023:S2081(Kavanagh)/A727(Rozic)-REFERRED TO EDUCATION/referred to
education
2022:S3128(Kavanagh)/A408(Rozic)-Education / Education
2021:S3128(Kavanagh)/A408(Rozic)-Education / Education
2020:S4329(Kavanagh)/A2270(Rozic)- Education / Education
2019:S4329(Kavanagh)/A2270(Rozic)- Education / Education
2018:S7071- Education
2016:S582 -Education
2013:S182 -Education
2011-2012 S91 - Education
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after it
shall have become a law.