Int 0939-2023

Be it enacted by the Council as follows: Section 1. Title 21-A of the administrative code of the city of New York is amended adding a new chapter 30 to read as follows: CHAPTER 30 STUDENT ACCESS TO HOME INTERNET AND ELECTRONIC DEVICES � 21-1001 Reporting on student access to home internet and electronic devices. a. Definitions. For the purposes of this section, the following terms have the following meanings: Blended learning. The term "blended learning" means educational courses that occur through a combination of traditional, in-person classroom instruction and at-home instruction using electronic devices to connect students to teachers. Electronic device. The term "electronic device" means a desktop computer, laptop, or tablet. Remote learning. The term "remote learning" means educational courses that occur exclusively through at-home instruction using electronic devices to connect students to teachers. b. Beginning on January 1, 2025, and every two years thereafter, the department shall submit to the speaker of the council and post conspicuously on the department's website a report regarding student access to home internet and electronic devices. Information for the report may be procured through means deemed appropriate by the department, including but not limited to surveys sent to the parents or guardians of students. The report shall include, but not be limited to, the following information for each school district: 1. The total enrollment; 2. The number of students who do not have internet access at home; 3. The number of students who do not have access to at least one personal electronic device at home; 4. The number of students utilizing remote or blended learning; 5. The number of students issued a department-owned electronic device; 6. An estimate of the percentage of assignments that require home internet access or home electronic devices; and 7. Information regarding student academic performance, including but not limited to, an analysis of how student scores received on state examinations are affected by access to internet and electronic devices. c. The department shall include in the report recommendations on reducing the digital divide among students, including but not limited to, identifying means of improving student access to home internet and electronic devices. d. No information that is otherwise required to be reported pursuant to this section shall be reported in a manner that would violate any applicable provision of federal, state, or local law relating to the privacy of student information or that would interfere with law enforcement investigations or otherwise conflict with the interests of law enforcement. � 2. This local law takes effect immediately. APM LS #10183 2/7/2023 2 2