Education

in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 1131: Provides that students who have an IEP shall not be required to take more than one regents examination in any given day

This bill (A 1131) requires that students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) or 504 Act accommodations receive only one Regents exam per school day. It directly affects students with disabilities who typically need extended testing time under their IEPs or 504 plans. The law mandates the education commissioner to create regulations ensuring these students are not scheduled for multiple exams on the same day, addressing concerns about excessive testing time. This change aims to reduce testing fatigue while maintaining exam security, as the legislature determined the benefits outweigh potential risks of information sharing between exams.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationProtects educational access for students with disabilities by limiting daily Regents exams under IEPs, reducing testing burden and ensuring equitable assessment conditions.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Special Education

Track

signed · New York · Senate Dec 5, 2025

S 6705: Relates to college admission and financial aid for students who have received a high school diploma from certain online high school programs

Provides that students who receive a high school diploma from an online high school program located within the United States that is accredited in accordance with the Job Corps Policy and Requirements Handbook shall be eligible for admission to colleges and financial aid.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEnables college admission and financial aid eligibility for online high school graduates, expanding educational access for a specific student group.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Financial Aid

in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 5755: Relates to incorporating art and music into prekindergarten programs

This bill (A 5755) allows school districts, charter schools, and boards of cooperative educational services to optionally incorporate music and art into prekindergarten programs. It does not require schools to add these subjects, but provides a legal pathway for them to do so. The policy change is limited to authorizing, rather than mandating, arts integration in early childhood education. The bill was referred to the Education committee on February 20, 2025.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAllows optional arts integration in pre-K, enhancing curriculum options without mandates, supporting expanded early education programs.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Early Childhood

Track

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 1003: Relates to a school-based mental health loan repayment program

Establishes a school-based mental health loan repayment program to aid youth mental health practitioners; provides for awards up to thirty thousand dollars to eligible applicants who agree to four years of service in underserved schools.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEstablishes loan repayment program for mental health practitioners in underserved schools, directly supporting student mental health services and educational access through targeted funding.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareFunds loan repayment for mental health practitioners in underserved schools, directly expanding access to youth mental health services through financial incentives.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Financial Aid Student Health Mental Health

Track

in committee · New York · Assembly Dec 8, 2025

A 770: Requires school districts to adopt a policy prohibiting the use of cellular telephones during classroom instruction

Requires school districts to adopt a policy prohibiting the use of cellular telephones during classroom instruction; requires the department of education to adopt a model policy for use by school districts.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill mandates phone-free classrooms to reduce distractions, enhancing instructional focus in K-12 education per its explicit policy requirement.90% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety

Track

in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 3581: Establishes that instruction in financial literacy be provided to pupils in grades nine, ten, eleven or twelve

Requires that instruction in financial literacy be provided to pupils in grades nine through twelve; establishes what should be included in such curriculum including the basics of financial planning, budgeting, borrowing, interest rates, and personal insurance policies.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates financial literacy curriculum in grades 9-12, enhancing student financial education programs per bill summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum

Track

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 1344: Establishes the environmental sustainability education act

Requires the department of education to establish an education for environmental sustainability program to teach children the importance of conserving and protecting our environment.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill mandates environmental sustainability curriculum in schools, enhancing student educational programs and curriculum content.90% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMandates environmental sustainability education program teaching conservation and protection, directly advancing environmental awareness and education goals.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Recycling

Track

in committee · New York · Assembly Mar 18, 2026

A 8843: Relates to the qualification of an applicant for the New York opportunity promise scholarship

This bill removes a requirement that applicants for New York's Opportunity Promise Scholarship must not have already earned any postsecondary degree. It specifically allows students already enrolled in eligible associate degree programs as of the law's effective date to qualify, provided they meet all other eligibility criteria. The change affects current community college students pursuing associate degrees in high-demand fields like nursing, cybersecurity, or green energy, without altering other requirements such as enrollment in approved programs. The amendment to Education Law Section 6311 takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRemoves barrier for current community college students in high-demand fields, expanding scholarship access without altering other criteria.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Financial Aid

Track

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 3258: Requires the department of education to provide annual notifications to school districts to combat cyber crime

This bill requires the state Department of Education to send annual email notifications to school district data security staff by July 1st each year. The notifications must include reminders about effective cybersecurity strategies and a copy of the National Institute of Standards and Technology's cybersecurity framework. It directly affects all public school districts in the state by mandating this yearly communication to help schools address cyber threats. The law takes effect immediately upon passage.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates annual cybersecurity notifications to protect school data systems, directly advancing educational infrastructure security per topic description.85% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill S 3258 enhances cybersecurity by requiring annual notifications to school districts with strategies and frameworks to combat cyber crime.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety Consumer Data Protection Cybersecurity

Track

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 199: Provides for home instruction

Deems home instruction which is compliant with the provisions of article 65 of the education law and the home instruction requirements prescribed in the commissioner of education's regulations to be substantially equivalent in amount and quality to the instruction given to students of like age and attainments at the public schools of the city or district where the student resides.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationDeems compliant home instruction substantially equivalent to public school instruction, expanding educational access options for families choosing home education.90% confidence

Track