What's happening
This bill directs the New York State Education Commissioner to consolidate school districts into one per county, except for cities over one million residents.
Why it matters
Potential for cost savings and efficiency. By consolidating many smaller school districts into one per county, the state could reduce administrative overhead and streamline operations, which may free up more resources for classroom instruction or reduce the local property tax burden.
Impact on educational equity and access. Larger, countywide districts could allow for a more equitable allocation of resources and access to specialized programs, addressing disparities that often exist between wealthier and poorer districts within the same county.
Significant change in local control. Local communities would lose some direct influence over their school districts, as decisions would now be made at the county level. This could affect responsiveness to unique community needs and preferences.
Major structural and legal overhaul. The repeal of multiple articles of existing education law signals a sweeping reorganization, which would require extensive new planning, legislation, and transition processes, with possible uncertainties and disruptions for students, staff, and families during implementation.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Merge School Districts by County
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to education
- Referred to education
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2345
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 13, 2017
Introduced by Sen. PARKER -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Education
AN ACT directing the commissioner of education for the state of New York to revamp the structure of school districts statewide creating one school district per county; and to repeal various provisions of the education law relating thereto
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Legislative findings and declaration. The legislature hereby finds and declares that New York state spends more money per student than any other state in the nation, but ranks thirty-ninth in high school graduation rates. Only seventy-three percent of New York's students graduate from high school and only thirty-seven percent are college ready. The legislature finds that New York students are not adequately prepared to compete in the global economy and that changes must be made to the education system in order to reverse these statistics and prepare students to compete in the global economy. The legislature also finds and declares that New York has struggled for several decades with the ongoing process of reorganizing our school district system in a way that provides a solution to the negative effects of declining school enrollment, broadens the scope of program offerings, facilitates optimum class scheduling, increases professional resources, and alleviates heavy tax burdens. The legislature therefore directs the commissioner of education to reorganize the school districts in a manner that adequately addresses the shortcomings of the current education system and prepares each and every student to excel in today's global economy.
§ 2. The commissioner of the New York state department of education shall establish and implement a new school district system statewide consisting of one school district per county in each of the state's sixty-two counties. The resulting sixty-two school districts shall
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07315-01-7
S. 2345 2
service only the needs of students residing in such county. Provided, however, that any school district located in a city with a population of one million or more shall be exempt from the provisions of this act.
§ 3. Within one year of the effective date of this act the commissioner of the New York state department of education shall submit a report proposing implementing legislation to effect and fund the consolidation of school districts as proposed in this act. Such report shall be provided to the governor, the speaker of the assembly, the temporary president of the senate, the assembly minority leader, the senate minority leader and the chairpersons and ranking members of the senate and assembly committees on education.
§ 4. Article 33 of title II of the education law is REPEALED.
§ 5. Article 35 of title II of the education law is REPEALED.
§ 6. Article 37 of title II of the education law is REPEALED.
§ 7. Article 39 of title II of the education law is REPEALED.
§ 8. Article 51 of title II of the education law is REPEALED.
§ 9. Article 52 of title II of the education law is REPEALED.
§ 10. Article 53 of title II of the education law is REPEALED.
§ 11. This act shall take effect on the three hundred sixty-fifth day after it shall have become a law.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act directing the commissioner of education for the state of New York to revamp the structure of school districts statewide creating one school district per county; and to repeal various provisions of the education law relating thereto
Purpose
Directs the commissioner to establish and implement a new school district system statewide that will consolidate school districts by county to reduce waste, redundancy and costs.
Summary of specific provision
Section 1: Sets forth the legislative finding and declaration
Read the full memo (625 words)
Section 2: The commissioner of the New York state department of education shall establish and implement a new school district system such that there are 62 school districts in New York state. School districts located in a city with a population of one million or more shall be exempt.
Section 3: Within 1 year of the effective date the commissioner shall submit a report proposing implementing legislation to effect and fund the consolidation of school districts.
Section 4: Repeals Article 33 of title II of the education law - Common School districts.
Section 5: Repeals Article 35 of title II of the education law - Union Free School Districts
Section 6: Repeals Article 37 of title II of the education law - Central School Districts
Section 7: Repeals Article 39 of title II of the education law - Central High School Districts
Section 8: Repeals Article 51 of title II of the education law - City School Districts of Cities with less than 125,000 inhabitants
Section 9: Repeals Article 52 of title II of the education law - City School Districts of Cities with 125,000 inhabitants or more
Section 10: Repeals Article 53 of title II of the education law - School Elections in City School Districts of Cities with less than 125,000 Inhabitants.
Section 11: This Act shall take effect on the 365th day after it shall have become a law
Justification
New York's public schools are required to prepare all students to successfully excel in today's global economy. Currently New York spends more money per student than any other state in the nation but ranks 39th in high school graduation rates. Ensuring that each school district meets the needs of each and every student is a daunting task. New York has struggled with the ongoing process of reorganizing our school district system in a way that provides a solution to the negative effects of declining school enrollment, broadens the scope of program offerings, facilitates optimum class scheduling, increases professional resources, and alleviates heavy tax burden. This bill directs the commissioner of education to reorganize the school
districts in a manner that addresses the needs of each and every student.
Small school districts, which are typically not wealthy have difficulty providing the scope of educational programs and variety of opportunities which are available in larger districts. If student enrollment drops in these districts, the district is often forced to choose between a reduction in programs offered or an increase in local property taxes. Reorganizing these types of school districts into a larger district will allow the school district to provide a broader choice of subjects offered, reduce operational costs, increase the probability that teachers will serve in their area of expertise and allow for necessary upgrades to facilities. This in turn will result in better educated students who can compete in the global economy.
Additionally, the reorganization of school districts will result in a more cost-effective administrative organization and eliminate redundancy in facilities, supplies, and equipment.
Prior legislative history
2015-16: S2621 - Referred to Education 2013-14: S5226 - Referred to Education
Fiscal implications
Unknown
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the three hundred sixty-fifth day after it shall have become law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.