What's happening
This bill creates a pilot program to establish peace/conflict resolution centers in selected New York school districts.
Why it matters
Promotes Restorative Approaches. By requiring participating schools to facilitate supervised peer mediation and leadership skill development, the program encourages alternatives to traditional punishment-based discipline, potentially reducing suspensions and improving school climate.
Targets Diverse Communities. Mandating that at least one center be in a large city ensures the pilot addresses urban issues, while allowing other sites in different districts provides insight into how conflict resolution works in varying educational environments.
Emphasizes Data and Evaluation. The annual reporting requirement means the program’s effectiveness will be closely monitored, with data on case numbers, outcomes, and recommendations for further action, potentially shaping future statewide education policy.
Fosters Local Initiative and Collaboration. By having districts propose their own plans (including possible partnerships with Boards of Cooperative Educational Services), the program supports community-specific solutions and encourages collaboration between schools and regional education entities.
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Who cares
School districts
Up to five districts could be selected to operate peace/conflict resolution centers, with proposals focused on supervised peer mediation, student leadership and peaceful school communities.
Students in participating districts
The centers would offer supervised peer mediation of student conflicts and opportunities to develop leadership skills.
Boards of cooperative educational services
District proposals could include collaboration with BOCES to provide conflict resolution services.
State education commissioner
The commissioner would select participating districts, issue implementation rules and report annually to the governor and Legislature on cases, results and recommendations for the pilot’s future.
Headline styles
Test School Conflict Centers
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
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.
Start School Peace Centers
In Senate Committee · Education · Sponsor Brian Benjamin
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
7274
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
April 18, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. REYES -- read once and referred to the Committee on Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to establishing a pilot program for peace/conflict resolution centers; and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Title 1 of the education law is amended by adding a new article 25 to read as follows:
ARTICLE 25
PEACE/CONFLICT RESOLUTION
CENTERS PILOT PROGRAM Section 1220. Peace/conflict resolution centers pilot program.
§ 1220. Peace/conflict resolution centers pilot program. 1. The commissioner shall establish a pilot program to provide peace/conflict resolution centers within school districts. The commissioner shall select up to five school districts to participate in the pilot program, provided at least one center established pursuant to this section shall be located in a city with a population of one million or more. The pilot program shall begin with the two thousand twenty--two thousand twenty-one school year.
2. To be considered for the pilot program, a school district shall submit a proposal to the commissioner with the goal of facilitating peaceful resolutions to student conflicts, and include methods to achieve the following goals: (a) provide for the supervised peer mediation of conflicts; (b) develop pupil leadership skills; and (c) promote peaceful atmospheres in schools and the surrounding communities. Nothing in this article shall prevent a proposal for a collaboration to provide such services in collaboration with boards of cooperative educational services. Each peace/conflict resolution shall be authorized to operate for at least two full school years.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06073-01-9
A. 7274 2
3. The commissioner shall submit an annual report on or before July thirty-first, two thousand twenty and on or before the same date every year thereafter to the governor and the legislature. Such report shall include, but not be limited to, the number of cases and resolutions, details on the subject matter of the cases, the commissioner's evaluation of the results of the pilot program and legislative recommendations on whether to continue, expand or make changes to the pilot program.
4. The commissioner shall promulgate any rules and regulations necessary to implement the provisions of this article.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately, and shall expire and be deemed repealed July 31, 2022.
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.