Relates to membership in parent-teacher associations by grandparents

5 Co-sponsors

• Jeffrey D. Klein
• Liz Krueger
• Velmanette Montgomery
• Suzi Oppenheimer
• Bill Perkins

Title of bill

An act to amend the education law, in relation to permitting membership in certain school related associations by grandparents of certain children

Purpose or general idea of bill

This bill will allow grandparents who have the written permission of their grandchildren's parent or legal guardian to participate in the child's school parent's association or parent-teacher association within a community school district in the City of New York.

Summary of specific provisions

Subdivision 15 of Section 2590-h of the education law is amended by adding a new closing paragraph to read as follows: The chancellor shall by rule or regulation provide for the involvement including membership, in any parent's association or parent-teacher association established pursuant to this subdivision, of a grandparent of a child who attends a school within the jurisdiction of the community school district, where the parent or other person having legal custody of such child has indicated in writing that such grandparent provides direct care and exercises control over the child on a regular basis.

Justification

Although they are not always designated as legal guardians, grandparents often take a very active role in the lives of their grandchildren, including having custodial care and direct control over the day-to-day life of their grandchildren. Thus, these grandparents often wish to become involved with the parent, or parent-teacher association at their grandchild's school. Under current law, unless these grandparents are the designated legal guardians, they have not had an official designation under the law allowing them to participate in these associations. This legislation would allow grandparents, when given written permission from the child's parent or legal guardian to participate in parent associations, as determined by a rule or regulation formulated by the Chancellor of the New York City Board of Education.

Prior legislative history

S.69/A.1640 of 2003-04 Referred to Senate Education S.927/A.1714 of 2005-06 S.1309/A.2684 of 2007-08

Fiscal implications

None.

Effective date

This act shall take effect immediately; provided that the amendments to subdivision 15 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 subdivision pursuant to section 17 of chapter 123 of the laws of 2003, as amended, when upon such date the provisions of section two of this act shall take effect.