NY A02405

Amends Education Law Section 210-a to allow graduate-level teacher and educational leader programs to accept alternative criteria beyond the standard 3.0 undergraduate GPA requirement.

Alternative admission criteria include 3.0 GPA in major, last two years of college, or graduate-level courses; letters of recommendation; languages spoken; personal interviews; and writing samples.

Exempts certified teachers and school administrators who hold graduate degrees from graduate record examination or substantially equivalent admission examination requirements.

Permits programs to exempt no more than 15 percent of any incoming class from standard selection criteria based on demonstrated potential or extenuating circumstances approved by commissioner regulations.

Requires programs to report to the department on the number of students admitted under exemptions and the selection criteria used.