What's happening
This bill allows non-contiguous school districts in Southampton and East Hampton, Suffolk County, to form central high school districts under certain conditions.
Why it matters
Expands educational collaboration. By permitting non-contiguous districts (those not sharing a border) in Southampton and East Hampton to form a central high school district, the bill enables smaller or isolated districts to pool resources and students, potentially improving academic and extracurricular offerings.
Targets small, underserved districts. The exception applies only if at least one participating district has fewer than 1,000 students and lacks its own high school for grades 9-12, directly addressing the challenges faced by small districts unable to sustain a comprehensive high school program.
May improve educational equity and efficiency. Allowing these districts to join together—even if not geographically connected—could offer students access to a broader curriculum, specialized teachers, and extracurricular activities that would be difficult or impossible for tiny, stand-alone districts to provide.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Allow Non-Contiguous School Districts
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
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.
Loosen School Boundary Rules
In Assembly Committee · Education · Sponsor Fred Thiele
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
S. 3224 A. 2684
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
SENATE - ASSEMBLY
January 20, 2017
IN SENATE -- Introduced by Sen. LAVALLE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Education
IN ASSEMBLY -- Introduced by M. of A. THIELE -- read once and referred to the Committee on Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to central high school districts in the county of Suffolk
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 1912 of the education law, as added by chapter 732 of the laws of 1981, is amended to read as follows:
§ 1912. Formation of central high school districts in the county of Suffolk. A central high school district may be formed by the combination of two or more central, union free or common school districts in the county of Suffolk. The territory shall be contiguous, except that in the towns of Southampton and East Hampton in the county of Suffolk, where at least one of the school districts has an enrollment of less than one thousand students and does not operate a high school program for grades nine-twelve, the territory of the proposed central high school district need not be contiguous.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04088-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the education law, in relation to central high school districts in the county of Suffolk
Purpose
Provides the territory of central high school districts that merge in the town of Southampton and East Hampton in the county of Suffolk, need not be contiguous if at least one of the school districts has an enrollment of less than one thousand students and does not operate a high school program for grades 9-12.
Summary of provisions
Amends Section 192 of Education Law which relates to the formation of central high school districts in the county of Suffolk to provide that the territory of central high school districts that merge in the towns of Southampton and East Hampton need not be contiguous if at least one of the school districts has an enrollment of less than one thousand students and does not operate a high school program for grades 9-12.
Justification
Section 1912 of the education law allows central high school districts in Suffolk County to be formed by the combination of two or more central, union free or common school districts. The current law precludes districts whose territories are not contiguous from creating a central high school district. This bill removes that stipulation and allows school districts that merge in the towns of Southampton and East Hampton in the county of Suffolk, do not need to be contiguous if at least one of the school districts has an enrollment of less than one thousand students and does not operate a high school program for grades 9-12.
Legislative history
2015-16 S.2929/A.4262.
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
Immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.