What's happening
This bill requires the NYC schools chancellor to get state approval and allow public comment before changing admissions policies.
Why it matters
Increases state oversight and transparency. By requiring the NYC schools chancellor to obtain written approval from the state commissioner before changing admissions policies, the bill shifts some control from city officials to the state, ensuring that major changes undergo external review.
Mandates a public comment period. Any proposed admissions policy change must be publicly announced and open to comment for 30 days, giving families, educators, and advocacy groups a formal opportunity to express support or concerns before decisions are finalized.
Slows down rapid policy shifts. The process requires at least 90 days from the state’s receipt of a change request before a final decision can be made, making it more difficult for the city to enact swift or potentially controversial admissions changes without broader scrutiny.
Potentially impacts school diversity and access debates. Since NYC admissions policies often affect issues like school segregation, access for underrepresented groups, and gifted/talented programs, these new requirements could shape or delay reforms in those areas, influencing educational equity citywide.
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Who cares
Headline styles
State Oversight of School Admissions
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to education
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
7684
IN SENATE
February 8, 2018
Introduced by Sen. HAMILTON -- 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 admission policy changes in a city school district in a city having 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. Subdivision 4 of section 2590-g of the education law, as amended by chapter 345 of the laws of 2009, is amended to read as follows:
4. subject to the provisions of section twenty-five hundred ninety-i of this article, maintain such jurisdiction over city-wide educational policies governing the special, academic, vocational, and other high schools authorized by this article [before the effective date of this section] as the respective community district education councils maintain over the schools within their jurisdiction, which shall not be construed to require or authorize the day-to-day supervision or the administration of the operations of such schools. Provided, further, the chancellor shall request, in writing, approval from the commissioner prior to implementing any admissions policy changes and the commissioner shall wait a minimum of ninety days from receipt of such request before making a final determination. Within thirty days of receipt of a request, the commissioner shall issue a notice for public comment and such public comment period shall remain open for thirty days. All public comments collected during such thirty day period shall be considered prior to final determination.
§ 2. Subdivision 4 of section 2590-g of the education law, as added by chapter 720 of the laws of 1996, is amended to read as follows:
4. subject to the provisions of section twenty-five hundred ninety-i of this article, maintain such jurisdiction over policies governing the special, academic, vocational and other high schools authorized by this article [before the effective date of this section] as the respective community boards maintain over the schools within their jurisdiction, which shall not be construed to require or authorize the day-to-day
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD13700-04-8
S. 7684 2
supervision or the administration of the operations of such schools. Provided, further, the chancellor shall request, in writing, approval from the commissioner prior to implementing any admissions policy changes and the commissioner shall wait a minimum of ninety days from receipt of such request before making a final determination. Within thirty days of receipt of a request, the commissioner shall issue a notice for public comment and such public comment period shall remain open for thirty days. All public comments collected during such thirty day period shall be considered prior to final determination.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately; provided that the amendment to subdivision 4 of section 2590-g of the education law made by section one of this act shall be subject to the expiration and reversion of such section pursuant to section 34 of chapter 91 of the laws of 2002, as amended, when upon such date the provisions of section two of this act shall take effect.
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 admission policy changes in a city school district in a city having a population of one million or more
Purpose
This bill allows the public to offer feedback on school admissions poli- cy through a mandated waiting period of public feedback before changes can take effect. Allowing all parties to express their concerns constructively before a determination is finalized.
Summary of provisions
Amends Section 1 subdivision 4 of section 2590-g of the education law to require the chancellor to request in writing, approval from the commis- sioner prior to implementing any admissions policy changes and the commissioner shall wait a minimum of ninety days from the receipt of such a request before making a final determination. Within thirty days of the receipt of such a request before making a final determination, the commissioner shall issue a notice for public comment and such period shall remain open for thirty days in which all comments are to be collected and considered before any determination is finalized
Existing law
Under current law, New York does not mandate a thirty-day period for public comments on admissions policy changes.
Justification
This bill seeks to promote transparency in Department of Education deci- sions by allowing members of the school and local community as well as the general public to give feedback at their discretion during the proposed thirty day wait time. These decisions are implemented without feedback of those who it will affect most. If enacted this bill will serve to protect the communities in which schools serve by requiring a thirty-day period in which the public can offer feedback on admissions decisions. This ensures that affected parties have the opportunity to voice concerns on the subject.
Legislative history
This is a new bill.
Fiscal implications
None to the state
Local fiscal implications
None to the local governments of the state
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the first of April next succeeding the date on which it shall have become law; provided that the amendment to subdivision 4 of section 2590-g of the education law was made by section one of this act shall be subject to the expiration and reversion of such section pursuant to section 34 of chapter 91 of the laws of 2002, as amended, when upon such date the provisions of section two of this act shall take effect.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.