What's happening
This bill imposes a two-year moratorium on school closings in New York City and requires a review of their impacts.
Why it matters
Temporarily halts school closures in NYC. For two full school years, the city cannot close, phase out, or significantly reorganize public schools except in emergency situations, offering stability for students, parents, and staff and pausing a controversial reform tactic.
Narrows emergency powers. The chancellor’s ability to close schools for emergencies is restricted to situations where it’s “absolutely necessary” for health, safety, or welfare, potentially preventing misuse of emergency provisions as a loophole.
Mandates a formal impact review. A committee of education experts must evaluate the effects of previous school closures on student achievement and educational experience, shifting the focus from administrative efficiency to student outcomes and educational equity.
Requires transparency and accountability. The findings from the evaluation must be reported to legislative leaders, which could influence future education policy decisions and ensure that any future closures are backed by evidence and public oversight.
Albany, before your first meeting.
Every bill that moved yesterday, summarized in a sentence and ranked by impact. The Albany Scorecard follows on Sundays.
Free. Unsubscribe in one click. Want alerts on specific bills? Create an account.
Who cares
Headline styles
Pause NYC School Closures
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
14 Co-sponsors
3 Multi-sponsors
History
- Referred to education
- Referred to education
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Pause Big City School Closures
In Senate Committee · Education · Sponsor Tony Avella
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1888
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 13, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. MOSLEY, BRAUNSTEIN, COOK, CRESPO, JAFFEE, O'DONNELL, TITONE, WEPRIN, PERRY, TITUS, CUSICK, ROSENTHAL, COLTON, GLICK, RIVERA -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. ABBATE, DenDEKKER, GOTTFRIED, MOYA -- read once and referred to the Committee on Education
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
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Paragraphs (a) and (f) of subdivision 2-a of section 2590-h of the education law, as added by chapter 345 of the laws of 2009, are amended to read as follows:
(a) Notwithstanding any other provision to the contrary, prepare an educational impact statement regarding any proposed school closing or significant change in school utilization, including the phase-out, grade reconfiguration, re-siting, or co-location of schools, for any public school located within the city district; provided however that the chancellor shall not be authorized to prepare or file an educational impact statement for any proposed school closing, school phase-out, grade reconfiguration, re-siting or co-location of schools that would take effect during the two thousand eighteen--two thousand nineteen school year or the two thousand nineteen--two thousand twenty school year.
(f) In the event that the chancellor determines that a school closing or significant change in school utilization is immediately necessary for the preservation of student health, safety or general welfare, the chancellor may temporarily close a public school or adopt a significant change in the school's utilization on an emergency basis. Such emergency school closing or significant change in school utilization shall only remain in effect for six months, during such time the chancellor shall comply with the requirements of this subdivision in order for such
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00593-01-7
A. 1888 2
school closure or significant change in school utilization to extend beyond the six month period; provided that any emergency school closing occurring during the two thousand eighteen--two thousand nineteen school year or the two thousand nineteen--two thousand twenty school year shall only remain in effect during such time as absolutely necessary in order to preserve student health, safety or general welfare.
§ 2. Paragraph (h) of subdivision 1 of section 2590-g of the education law, as added by chapter 345 of the laws of 2009, is amended to read as follows:
(h) approve proposals for all school closures or significant changes in school utilization including the phase-out, grade reconfiguration, re-siting, or co-location of schools, following any hearing pursuant to subdivision two-a of section twenty-five hundred ninety-h of this article; provided 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 eighteen--two thousand nineteen school year or the two thousand nineteen--two thousand twenty school year.
§ 3. Section 305 of the education law is amended by adding a new subdivision 56 to read as follows:
56. The commissioner shall establish a school closure evaluation and review committee, which shall review the impacts relating to the number of low-performing schools that have been closed in the city school district located in a city of one million or more inhabitants including, but not limited to, the impact to student educational experience and achievement, and shall also consider whether alternative policies would have a more positive impact on student achievement. The committee shall include, but not be limited to, academicians who study educational outcomes, psychometricians and education policy experts. The commissioner shall report the committee's findings to the chairs of the senate and assembly education committees and the chair of the senate finance committee and the chair of the assembly ways and means committee no later than September thirtieth, two thousand nineteen.
§ 4. This act shall take effect immediately; provided that the amendments to sections 2590-h and 2590-g of the education law made by sections one and two of this act shall not affect the expiration of such sections and shall expire and be deemed repealed therewith.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.