Imposes a moratorium on the initiation of school closings in cities with a population of one million or more

2 Co-sponsors

• Ruth Hassell-Thompson
• Kevin S. Parker

BILL NUMBER:S4465A

Title of bill

An act to amend the education law, in relation to imposing a moratorium on the initiation of school closings in cities with a population of one million or more

Purpose or general idea of bill

The purpose of this bill is to establish a moratorium on the initiation of any proposed school closing or significant change in school utiliza- tion.

Summary of specific provisions

Section 1. reads as follows: Notwithstanding any inconsistent provision of the education law or any other law to the contrary, there is hereby established a moratorium on the initiation of any proposed school clos- ing, including a phase-out plan or grade reconfiguration, for any public school located within such city school district

Section 2 of the bill amends paragraph (h) of subdivision 1 of section 2590-g of the education law, as amended by chapter 345 of the laws of 2009, to state that the city board shall not approve any proposal for a school closing, school phase-out, or grade reconfiguration that would take effect during the two thousand thirteen-two thousand fourteen school year or the two thousand fourteen-two thousand fifteen school year.

Section 2 of the bill would create a School Closure Evaluation and Review Committee.

Justification

During the last two years, there has been an explosion of school closures in New York City. However, it is not dear that the academic performance of the students who are adversely impacted or dispersed by a school closure have measurably improved. Similarly, there is limited evidence that replacement schools perform any better than those that have been closed.

In the view of many education professionals, efforts to enhance student performance requires comprehensive academic intervention and not simply a shut-down strategy most commonly found in the consumer retail market. A one-year moratorium will provide the legislature and the State Educa- tion Department with the time to evaluate the effectiveness of the aggressive school closure practices of the NYC Department of Education, and determine the best course of action to meet the educational needs of public school students.

Prior legislative history

New bill.

Fiscal implications for state & local governments

None.

Effective date

This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall have become a law and shall expire and be deemed repealed one year after such effective date.