Education

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 3988: Relates to written notification to schools of a student's placement in foster care

This bill requires social services districts or authorized agencies to send written notice to a school's principal within the first day a foster care child enrolls. The notice must include specific details like the child's name, foster placement address, previous school, and social services contact, ensuring schools are promptly informed of a student's foster care status. All information shared under this bill must be kept confidential and cannot be disclosed beyond the required notification. The law takes effect 120 days after enactment.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires timely notification to schools about foster care children, enabling better educational support and access for this vulnerable student group within K-12 education.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Health

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 890: Enacts "SUNY for all: the New York State higher education equality act" to provide free tuition to students who attend SUNY

Enacts "new deal for SUNY: the New York state higher education equality act" to provide free tuition to students who attend SUNY who are enrolled in academic coursework and are on track to graduate; establishes the state university tuition fund to reimburse the state university of New York for the cost of tuition for students who are eligible for free tuition.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates state fund to reimburse SUNY for tuition, increasing public education funding and state budget appropriations.85% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides free tuition for SUNY students, expanding higher education access and increasing state funding through the tuition fund.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Student Financial Aid

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 6498: Expands the health education curriculum to include breast cancer screenings

S 6498, known as "Siena's Law," requires New York senior high schools to add breast cancer education to mandatory health classes, including age-appropriate instruction on self-examinations. Certified health teachers must deliver this content, covering prevention and detection methods for breast cancer as part of the standard curriculum. Local school boards may also choose to include this education in elementary and middle schools. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, after enactment.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates inclusion of breast cancer education in high school health curriculum, expanding mandatory content to enhance student health literacy and preventive care as part of standard curriculum.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates breast cancer education in schools including prevention/detection methods, advancing public health initiatives through early awareness and education95% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 6022: Authorizes tuition assistance program awards for students enrolled in short-term credential programs offered by certain public institutions

This bill expands New York's existing tuition assistance program to cover short-term credential programs at public institutions like SUNY, CUNY, and community colleges. It authorizes aid for students enrolled in programs lasting 8-15 weeks (150-600 hours) that align with high-demand industries and lead to employer-recognized credentials. Aid amounts are calculated as a proportion of full-time tuition assistance based on the student's actual hours enrolled. The program does not create new funding but applies existing aid rules to these accelerated training programs.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands tuition aid for short-term credential programs at public colleges, increasing access to higher education and workforce training without new funding.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill expands tuition aid for short-term credential programs in high-demand industries, enhancing workers' skills and job prospects through employer-recognized credentials.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Student Financial Aid

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 2279: Requires nonpublic schools to provide the same services that public schools currently provide to nonpublic schools; repealer

Enacts the "educational equity and choice act"; requires nonpublic schools to provide the same services that public schools currently provide to nonpublic schools; provides that such costs shall be approved by the commissioner of education and borne by the state; makes related provisions.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires state-funded services for nonpublic schools to ensure equity, advancing educational access and services equality90% confidence

Sub-Topics School Choice

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 6096: Relates to prohibiting colleges from denying formerly incarcerated individuals admittance to college based solely on their incarceration

This bill prohibits colleges and universities from denying admission to applicants solely because they have a history of incarceration. It directly affects formerly incarcerated individuals seeking enrollment in higher education. The law adds a new section to education law requiring institutions to consider all applicants without automatic denial based on past incarceration. The policy takes effect July 1 following enactment, applying to all public and private institutions of higher education in the state.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProhibits college admission denial based on incarceration history, directly supporting rehabilitation and reintegration of formerly incarcerated individuals - key criminal justice reform goal.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill prohibits automatic college admission denial for formerly incarcerated individuals, directly expanding educational access without barriers per education law.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 5632: Implements a students' bill of rights for city university of New York institutions

This bill requires all City University of New York (CUNY) colleges and universities to adopt written policies guaranteeing specific student rights. Key provisions include ensuring student representation on conduct boards and policy-making committees, establishing designated free speech spaces, and protecting student journalists' rights to publish without prior restraint (except for libel, obscenity, or imminent disruption). It also mandates that elected student leaders can communicate with the student body via official channels (with limited administrative review) and that student activity fees must be allocated based on student decisions. The law directly affects all CUNY students by formalizing their participation in campus governance and expression rights.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires CUNY institutions to adopt student rights policies including representation, free speech spaces, and journalist protections, strengthening student autonomy in higher education.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

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passed · New York · Senate Feb 25, 2026

S 6227: Provides that the commissioner of education may promulgate rules and regulations for a health education curriculum to include menstrual disorders

Provides that the commissioner of education may promulgate rules and regulations for a health education curriculum to include menstrual disorders, including but not limited to, endometriosis.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill expands health curriculum requirements to include menstrual disorders, enhancing student health education content and aligning with curriculum improvement indicators.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates inclusion of menstrual disorders in school health curriculum, advancing health education awareness for women's health conditions.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 1538: Requires a school library media specialist in each elementary, intermediate, middle, junior high and senior high school

Requires a school library media specialist in each elementary, intermediate, middle, junior high and senior high school with one such specialist being employed full-time in schools with more than five hundred students and two such specialists being employed full-time in schools with more than two thousand students.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates library media specialists to enhance student resource access and curriculum support in all school levels, directly strengthening educational resources and programs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Libraries

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failed · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 6905: Allows the state and city university of New York system to offer college credits to prospective students

Allows the state and city university of New York system to offer college credits to prospective students based on such prospective student's performance on the regents examinations.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands college access by allowing Regents exam performance to earn SUNY credits, directly advancing educational access and higher education opportunities.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

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