Enacts the "fostering optimal classroom use of screens (FOCUS) act" to limit use of internet enabled and electronic devices and prioritize non-digital teaching methods; prohibits use by younger students; limits and restricts certain uses by older students; requires written policies for opting in for the school issued devices; prohibits social media applications, gaming and AI in school issued devices; requires registration by educational technology providers.
This bill requires Medicaid to cover applied behavior analysis therapy provided during school hours for students in grades kindergarten through twelfth who have an autism spectrum disorder. The therapy must be delivered in public or non-public schools, and the specific definitions for the treatment and therapy will follow existing state insurance law. By adding this coverage to Medicaid, the legislation ensures that eligible students can access this support within their educational setting without additional out-of-pocket costs. The changes will take effect approximately 90 days after the bill is signed into law.
Directs the commissioner of education to appoint a monitor for the Buffalo city school district; establishes the powers and duties of such monitor and certain other officers.
Prohibits humanoid robots and AI systems from being used in schools; provides limited exceptions; provides for student privacy protections; makes related provisions.
Directs the commissioner of taxation and finance to help entities to elect to participate in the federal tax credit for elementary and secondary scholarships known as the Educational Choice for Children Act of 2025.
Requires the refund of certain excess school taxes collected by school districts located within Rockland County resulting from erroneous tax levy increases for the 2024--2025 school tax levy.
This bill authorizes the Dormitory Authority to provide financing to the Abraham Joshua Heschel School. The legislation achieves this by amending the Public Authorities Law to explicitly list the school as an eligible recipient of such funding. Once passed, the change takes effect immediately, allowing the school to access financial resources for its operations or development.
Provides that each school district, charter school, and board of cooperative educational services shall adopt and implement a written policy governing the use of humanoid robots in schools and that such policy shall prohibit the use of an artificial intelligence-enabled humanoid robot in an instructional capacity; defines terms.
Extends the deadline for reduction in class size under contracts for excellence in a city school district in a city having a population of one million or more inhabitants.
This bill amends a previous resolution to officially distribute state funding for the 2025-26 fiscal year to specific educational and arts organizations. It directs money to the New York State Council on the Arts, the State University of New York, and the State Education Department, listing individual recipients and exact grant amounts for each. The legislation requires that these allocations be approved by the temporary president of the Senate and the director of the budget before funds are released. Additionally, it allows for the transfer of these funds between the listed agencies with the same executive approvals.
