Relates to required attendance at schools

2 Co-sponsors

• José Peralta
• Toby Ann Stavisky

BILL NUMBER:S5862

Title of bill

An act to amend the education law, in relation to required attendances

Purpose or general idea of bill

To require boards of education or trustees to determine whether school should be closed on a day where, if school were to be in session, student absenteeism would result in a waste of educational resources.

Summary of specific provisions

The Education Law is amended by adding a new section paragraph b of subdivision 1 of section 3210 to provide that boards of education or trustees must make a determination as to whether school should be closed on a day where a considerable Proportion of students would not likely be in attendance because of a religious or cultural day of observance and holding school session would therefore result in a waste of educational resources.

Justification

It may be impractical and a waste of educational resources to hold school session on a day where a considerable proportion of students will not be in attendance due to religious or cultural holidays. One example of this impracticality and waste of educational resources may occur for some schools that hold session on Lunar New Year day which traditionally occurs in late January or early February. It is one of the most significant cultural holidays for Chinese, Koreans, Japanese and other Asian ethnic groups. it is a traditional time of reunion and celebration with family and friends. While Lunar New Year day is recognized as an official day of commemoration in New York, public schools that have a considerable proportion of students that do not attend school due to this cultural holiday do not close for that day. It may be impractical to keep the public schools open in Asian communities when there is a significant number of students and instructors who take the day off. In Queens County, Asians presently comprise nearly 23 percent of the total 2.2 million Queens residents. In some areas of the state, such as, Flushing, Queens the Asian population represents over 57 percent of the total population. This legislation would require boards of education or trustees to-make a determination relating to closing school on religious or cultural holidays, such as Lunar New Year day, to avoid considerable absenteeism and the waste of educational resources.

Prior legislative history

This is a new bill.

Fiscal implications

To be determined.

Effective date

This act shall take effect immediately.