Education (School Safety)

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 3906: Relates to making certain provisions applicable to public schools relating to instruction in civility, citizenship and character education

This bill requires New York public schools (K-12) to incorporate instruction in civility, citizenship, and character education into their existing curricula. It mandates teaching specific principles including honesty, tolerance, respect, personal responsibility, and anti-bullying measures, with explicit emphasis on addressing harassment and discrimination based on race, gender, religion, disability, sexual orientation, and other protected characteristics. The instruction must also cover safe and responsible internet use. The bill directs school regents to design how this component integrates into current courses, with the education commissioner handling regulatory details.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates K-12 inclusion of civility/citizenship curriculum with anti-discrimination focus, enhancing student development and school climate per bill requirements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education School Safety

Track

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 288: Relates to restrictions on authority for the withholding of public monies from educational institutions

Provides that the commissioner of education may also withhold from any district or city its share of the public money of the state for willfully disobeying any provision of law, or for such decisions, orders or regulations as aforesaid whose willful violation constitutes an immediate threat to the health, safety, education or welfare of students, employees or visitors at such common school, educational institution, school district or public school.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill enables withholding funds for willful violations threatening student safety/health, enforcing compliance to protect educational environment and welfare.85% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety

Track

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 6884: Relates to establishing a school safety spending exclusion from annual tax levy limits

Provides an annual tax levy limit allowing for expenditures directly or indirectly related to school safety, including improving district wide emergency response plans, training staff and/or students on school safety and/or conflict mediation, installing and maintaining safety technology and software in school buildings, hiring school resource officers, acquiring emergency medical equipment, installing fencing around the perimeter of school grounds, installing bulletproof doors and windows, acquiring and maintaining technology for expedited notification of local law enforcement during an emergency.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExempts school safety spending from tax levy limits, enabling districts to fund safety measures without exceeding annual tax caps, directly supporting essential program funding within budget constraints.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill explicitly enables tax funding for school safety infrastructure (safety tech, resource officers, emergency equipment), directly strengthening school safety within education context.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Funding School Safety Student Health

Track

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 2588: Relates to site mapping for emergency response data and school safety plans

This bill requires school districts to create detailed site maps for emergency response as part of school safety plans. The maps must include floor plans, school grounds layouts, road maps of surrounding areas, and specific labels like hazardous materials locations, with features like true north orientation, grid coordinates, and compatibility with existing law enforcement software. Districts must verify map accuracy through initial and annual building walkthroughs. The bill also establishes funding eligibility through school building aid for approved mapping costs, ensuring schools don't need to purchase new software to share these maps with emergency responders.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates detailed safety maps for school emergency response, enhancing school infrastructure and student safety as part of educational environment.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety

Track

in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 6792: Prohibits discrimination of students on school property or at a school function based on religious attire, clothing or facial hair

This bill prohibits schools from discriminating against students based on religious attire, clothing, or facial hair required by their faith. It applies to all students on school property or at school events, adding these religious expressions to the list of protected characteristics under existing anti-bullying and anti-discrimination laws. The law explicitly prevents harassment or exclusion tied to religious practices while maintaining existing exemptions for gender-based course requirements under Title IX and disability accommodations under Section 504. It amends education law to clarify that schools cannot deny participation or impose penalties for religiously mandated dress or appearance.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationPrevents religious discrimination in schools, enhancing student access and inclusion under educational policies by protecting religious expressions in school settings.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety

Track

in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 5752: Relates to making certain provisions applicable to public schools relating to instruction in civility, citizenship and character education

This bill requires all New York public schools (K-12) to include a mandatory component on civility, citizenship, and character education in their curriculum. It mandates instruction on principles like honesty, respect, personal responsibility, and anti-bullying, with specific emphasis on discouraging harassment, discrimination, and promoting safety online. The curriculum must cover awareness of discrimination based on race, weight, national origin, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender, and sex. School officials must integrate this into existing lessons without creating new programs, and the state education department will handle implementation rules. The law takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates K-12 curriculum additions on civility/citizenship, enhancing educational content and promoting inclusive values per bill text95% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum K-12 Education School Safety

Track

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 1682: Prohibits the use of remote or virtual learning as a form of punishment or disciplinary action

Prohibits the use of remote or virtual learning as a form of punishment or disciplinary action; provides exceptions for failure to comply with COVID-19 health and safety protocols.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationProhibits using remote learning as punishment, protecting student access to in-person education during discipline. Exceptions for health protocols don't alter core protective intent for educational access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety

Track

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 1312: Requires licensed or certified school social workers in each elementary, intermediate, middle, junior high and senior high school

Requires at least one full-time licensed or certified social worker to be employed in each elementary, intermediate, middle, junior high school and senior high school throughout the state.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates licensed social workers in all K-12 schools, enhancing student support services and mental health resources per bill summary.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates school social workers for student mental health services, directly advancing mental health support in schools per healthcare topic definition.95% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education School Safety Student Health

Track

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 9, 2025

S 1316: Relates to the safe operation and maintenance of all elementary and secondary school science laboratories

S 1316 requires the state education commissioner to create mandatory safety guidelines for all public elementary and secondary school science laboratories. These guidelines must cover lab inspections, equipment maintenance, chemical storage, staff safety training, and accident response procedures, aligning with existing federal and state safety rules. The commissioner is also empowered to order schools to temporarily halt specific lab activities or materials deemed to pose an unreasonable safety risk to students, teachers, or staff. This bill directly affects all K-12 schools in the state by mandating standardized safety protocols in science education settings.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires mandatory safety guidelines for school labs, enhancing student/staff protection and aligning with safety standards, directly advancing school operational safety within education.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates staff safety training and lab safety protocols, directly improving workplace safety for school science staff as part of labor protection standards.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety

Track

in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 4970: Relates to classroom safety mechanisms, emergency medical equipment, and evidence-based best practices for school safety planning and training

This bill requires all public schools to implement specific safety measures. It mandates that every school door have a quick-locking mechanism meeting federal guidelines, and encourages hardened windows/doors. Additionally, it requires bleeding control kits in every classroom (with color-coded, app-assisted tools) and sets a "three-minute rule" for accessibility. School administrators must develop and annually review detailed emergency response plans with input from staff, law enforcement, and community members. The bill directly affects public school districts, administrators, and staff responsible for safety planning and equipment deployment.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill mandates school safety infrastructure (locks, bleeding kits, emergency plans), enhancing physical safety and infrastructure - a core component of K-12 educational environments per topic description.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety

Track