Excludes the value of state forest preserve lands in the Adirondack and Catskill parks from use in the determination of state aid to school districts.
Establishes instruction in financial literacy for students in sixth through eighth grade; requires such instruction to include content on budgeting, savings, credit, debt, insurance, investment, and other issues associated with personal financial responsibility as determined by the education department.
Relates to providing access to laptops for high school and higher education students and textbooks for higher education students; provides access to laptops and textbooks without charge.
This bill (A 3879) permits the commissioner of education to approve graduate programs for inclusion in the state tuition assistance program, which previously excluded them. It directly affects graduate students seeking state-funded tuition aid by expanding eligibility to include approved graduate programs. The key provision amends education law to explicitly state that "nothing in this section shall be read to exclude any graduate program" from being classified as an approved program. The change modifies eligibility rules but does not guarantee funding - approval remains at the commissioner's discretion. This is a policy adjustment to broaden access to state tuition assistance for graduate education.
Provides additional requirements for approval of charter school applications; applies additional prohibitions to charter schools; requires certain financial disclosures by charter schools; requires charter schools to comply with provisions relating to construction, repair or demolition of school facilities; relates to admission of students.
This bill allows all high school students attending public or private schools to ride public transportation for free, covering one daily round-trip between home and school. Schools must provide students with identification cards to verify eligibility for this benefit. The policy takes effect 180 days after the bill becomes law. It directly affects high school students and public transit systems in school districts.
Directs the commissioner to convene statewide and regional conventions to bring together underrepresented educators annually to discuss experiences, best practices, and afford for networking, mentorship opportunities, and support.
Includes policies and procedures for responding to students having mental health crises in a manner that does not include contacting law enforcement unless implied or direct threats of violence or other criminal activity is involved in school safety plans.
Creates substance use prevention and recovery resource materials which include age-appropriate information on the risks of drug use, overdoses, fentanyl, including its high potency, the severe risks associated with its use, the prevalence of counterfeit pills containing fentanyl, and the concept of fentanyl poisoning, and how to include resources from outside of the school district to improve instruction.
Requires the commissioner of education, in consultation with the commissioner of health, to develop a bleeding control kit program which requires bleeding control kits to be installed in easily accessible areas of schools; requires training of personnel to use bleeding control kits in the event of an injury to another person.
