Education (K-12 Education)

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 1760: Establishes a grant program for the installation of laundry equipment and facilities in certain schools

Establishes a grant program for public K-12 schools which are eligible for support provided under Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, for the purposes of installing laundry equipment for facilities for use by students and parents or guardians of students.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides grants for laundry facilities in Title I schools, improving school infrastructure and student access to hygiene resources, aligning with educational access and facility support indicators.90% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education School Funding

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 650: Relates to amending the universal full-day pre-kindergarten program subscription amount for regions other than New York city; repealer

This bill changes how New York state funds pre-kindergarten programs outside New York City. It repeals a previous funding formula and sets a fixed $300 million annual budget for New York City programs, while requiring that all non-NYC regions receive funding sufficient to cover every qualifying program's slots. The department must use a merit-based scoring system to allocate funds, prioritizing community need and program quality, with payments tied to actual enrolled students. This directly affects public pre-K programs in all upstate regions by guaranteeing full funding for qualified providers.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates state budget to fund pre-K programs via fixed $300M NYC funding and ensures non-NYC coverage, prioritizing community need through merit-based allocation.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationEnsures sufficient funding for all non-NYC pre-K programs via merit-based allocation, prioritizing community need and program quality, directly advancing early education access and funding.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Early Childhood K-12 Education School Funding

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 2623: Creates a transportation subsidy to increase access to water safety instruction

This bill creates a state-funded transportation subsidy to help public school students (K-12) access water safety instruction at private facilities. Eligible students must attend a public school where qualified private facilities offering such courses are within a specified radius (2.5 miles in cities over 1 million, 5 miles elsewhere). The subsidy covers transportation costs (e.g., school buses or public transit) for students enrolled in approved programs, with regulations to be set by the education department. It does not fund the instruction itself but removes a barrier to access for families in areas with limited local options.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesState-funded transportation subsidy for public school water safety programs increases government spending on education services, aligning with funding essential programs.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationFunds transportation to expand access to water safety programs for K-12 students, directly advancing educational access through state-funded support.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationFunds transportation costs (buses/transit) for student access to water safety programs, directly supporting public transit usage under transportation policy.90% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education School Transportation Public Transit

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 4227: Requires instruction in physical education in certain elementary and secondary schools

Requires instruction in physical education in certain elementary and secondary schools including for students with disabling conditions and those in alternative education programs.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates physical education instruction for all students including those with disabilities and in alternative programs, enhancing curriculum access and student health programs in K-12 schools.90% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education Student Health

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 831: Provides for the posthumous awarding of high school diplomas

Directs the board of education or the board of trustees of each school district shall establish a policy and adopt procedures permitting the district to confer a diploma on a student posthumously if, at the time of death, such student had completed the eleventh grade class of a public school in the district and was enrolled or expected to be enrolled in the twelfth grade class within the same public school district the following school year.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill establishes policy for posthumous diploma awarding to students who completed 11th grade, recognizing academic achievement and providing closure, strengthening educational recognition policies.95% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 6194: Relates to providing access to laptops for high school and higher education students and textbooks for higher education students

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.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill provides free laptops and textbooks for students, directly expanding educational access and resources without cost, aligning with support indicators for enhancing student access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education K-12 Education Libraries

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 1696: Enables high school students to use public transportation without charge in order to ride to and from school

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.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRemoves transportation cost barrier for high school students, directly expanding educational access to school attendance.90% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationEnables free public transit access for students, expanding ridership and promoting sustainable transportation use without restrictions.95% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education School Transportation Student Health Public Transit

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 6508: Requires a course of study in the awareness and prevention of human trafficking

This bill requires all public school students in New York State from kindergarten through 12th grade to receive age-appropriate instruction about recognizing and preventing human trafficking. The curriculum must be developed by the education commissioner with input from criminal justice services, covering signs of trafficking and prevention strategies for students, parents, and school staff. Schools must provide this education as part of their regular coursework, with model materials available online from the state department. The law takes effect July 1 following its enactment, mandating concrete policy changes in public school curricula.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates age-appropriate human trafficking education in all K-12 public schools, enhancing student awareness programs and curriculum requirements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum K-12 Education

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 5243: 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.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill mandates structured peer mentoring programs in public high schools, requiring training and framework development to enhance student support and staff practices, directly advancing educational programming.90% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 1857: Requires the public school curriculum for children in kindergarten through grade twelve to include a minimum of two hours per week instruction in civics lessons

Requires the public school curriculum for children in kindergarten through grade twelve to include a minimum of two hours per week instruction in civics lessons.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates civics curriculum requirement, enhancing student civic education and aligning with curriculum standards under education policy.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum K-12 Education

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