What's happening
This bill requires most New York school districts to provide extracurricular activities and athletics to private, parochial, and home-schooled students upon request.
Why it matters
Expands access to extracurriculars and sports. By requiring public schools to allow private, parochial, and home-schooled students to participate in their after-school activities and athletic programs, the bill increases opportunities for socialization, skill development, and physical activity for students outside the public school system.
Addresses educational equity. The legislation aims to reduce disparities between public and non-public school students, especially for those who might otherwise lack access to a broad range of extracurricular offerings, helping level the playing field for college admissions and personal growth.
Impacts public school resources and planning. Schools will need to plan for potentially higher participation in extracurriculars and athletics, which could affect budgets, staffing, scheduling, and facility use. This may require new policies or adjustments to accommodate a more diverse student participant pool.
Excludes largest city districts. The bill specifically exempts school districts in cities with populations over one million (i.e., New York City), meaning the mandate affects suburban and rural districts but not NYC, potentially reflecting differences in scale, resources, or logistical considerations.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Let Private Students Join Activities
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to education
- Referred to education
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
188
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY (Prefiled)
January 9, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. CAHILL, BRABENEC -- read once and referred to the Committee on Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to the provision of certain programs and services to private or parochial school or homeinstructed pupils
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The education law is amended by adding a new section 3204-a to read as follows:
§ 3204-a. Provision of certain programs and services to private or parochial school or home-instructed pupils. 1. As used in this section, the term "programs and services" shall mean participation in all extracurricular activities, and intraschool, intramural, and extramural athletics pursuant to regulations promulgated by the commissioner.
2. The school authorities of any school district and any community school district in the state, except any school districts located in cities having a population of one million or more shall furnish programs and services to pupils who are residents of this state and who attend private or parochial schools or who are instructed at home in such school districts, upon the written request of the persons in parental relation to any such pupil. Such a request shall be filed with the board of education of the school district in which the persons in parental relation to any such pupil reside on or before the first day of June preceding the school year for which the request is made.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the first of July next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01930-01-9
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.