What's happening
This bill requires that placing a charter school in New York City property must follow the city's uniform land use review procedure.
Why it matters
Gives local communities more influence over charter school siting. By requiring the use of the city’s Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP), the bill ensures that local stakeholders—including community boards and elected officials—have a formal say in whether and how charter schools are placed on city property.
Adds transparency and public input to school co-location decisions. The mandated land use review involves public hearings and opportunities for community feedback, potentially reducing surprise decisions and increasing accountability in how public resources are allocated.
May slow or limit rapid charter school expansion in NYC. The additional procedural steps could make it more difficult or time-consuming to site new charter schools in public buildings, potentially affecting growth plans for charter networks and altering the educational landscape.
Aligns charter school siting with other major land use decisions. Treating charter school locations the same as other significant land uses may set a precedent for how educational facilities are integrated into neighborhoods, potentially impacting zoning, traffic, and broader urban planning considerations.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Review Charter School Locations
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.
Apply ULURP to Charter Schools
In Assembly Committee · Education · Sponsor Daniel O'Donnell
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3648
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 25, 2017
Introduced by Sen. PARKER -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to charter school locations in New York city
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Paragraph (a) of subdivision 3 of section 2853 of the education law, as amended by chapter 101 of the laws of 2010, is amended to read as follows:
(a) A charter school may be located in part of an existing public school building, in space provided on a private work site, in a public building or in any other suitable location. Provided, however, before a charter school may be located in part of an existing public school building, the charter entity shall provide notice to the parents or guardians of the students then enrolled in the existing school building and shall hold a public hearing for purposes of discussing the location of the charter school. A charter school may own, lease or rent its space. Provided further, however, that before a charter school may be located in part of an existing school building in the city of New York, or in any other real property of the city of New York, there shall be full compliance with the provisions of section one hundred ninety-seven-c of the New York city charter, relating to uniform land use review procedure, or the provisions of any other local law of the city of New York relating thereto.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06576-01-7
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 charter school locations in New York city
Purpose
This bill would require full compliance with ULURP before a charter school could be located in New York City owned space, including public schools.
Summary of provisions
Section one of the bill amends Education Law section 2853, subdivision 3, paragraph a, by adding new language that requires full compliance with ULURP before a charter school can be located in New York City owned space, including public schools.
Section 2 of the bill is the effective date.
Justification
Under the New York City Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP), when city owned properties are to be sold, transferred, or leased ULURP review is required. The ULURP process includes a specific timeline, review by a community board and approval by the City Council. Under current law, New York City public school buildings are excluded from the ULURP process.
This bill would require the ULURP process to be applied before changes regarding charter schools are made that affect New York City public school buildings or other city-owned properties. It would not preclude charter schools from using, leasing or purchasing Department of Education or other city-owned property, but would allow parents, the community board and the City Council their proper role in reviewing and approving these changes to the use of city property.
Prior legislative history
2015-16:S.1561/A.4134- Referred to Education 2013-14:S.2629/A.3150- Referred to Education 2011-12:S.1155/A.5222- Referred to Education 2009-10:S.7192/A.9845- Referred to Education
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.