A 5243 New York Assembly · 2025 Regular Session

Establishes the high school peer mentoring pilot program

This bill establishes a statewide high school peer mentoring pilot program for all public high schools, directly affecting students, mentors, and school staff. It requires schools to review existing programs, develop recruitment plans, create training materials, and implement a structured mentoring framework before the 2026-2027 school year. Key provisions include mandatory staff training on mentor-like practices, evidence-based mentor screening, ongoing skill-building for mentors (like active listening and boundary-setting), and relationship mapping to ensure every student connects with a supportive adult. The program must be evaluated after its first year, with results reported to state officials by August 2027, and the pilot expires January 1, 2028.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Feb 12, 2025 Last action Jan 7, 2026