This bill, "Siena's Law," requires New York public schools to add age-appropriate instruction on breast cancer self-examinations to senior high school health education courses. It mandates that certified health teachers provide this content as part of the required curriculum, alongside other cancer prevention and detection methods. Local school boards may also choose to include similar instruction in elementary and middle schools. The law affects all public school students in New York, with specific requirements beginning in high school. It takes effect July 1, 2025, after enactment.
Prevents certain public institutions of higher education from using the scholastic aptitude test and ACT assessment in the admissions process on and after the two thousand twenty-six--two thousand twenty-seven academic year for New York resident applicants; requires SUNY and CUNY to create a new standardized test by the two thousand thirty--two thousand thirty-one academic year.
Requires school districts to screen for gifted and talented students; provides the parents or guardians of such students the option to opt out of such screening.
Grants priority to charter school applicants with a board of trustees and school administrators that are at least fifty-one percent minority group members.
This bill requires New York school districts to purchase or lease only zero-emission school buses (electric or hydrogen-powered, with no tailpipe emissions) when buying new buses starting July 1, 2027. It also mandates that any procurement for school transportation services or infrastructure components must prioritize U.S.-made parts and assembly, with limited waivers available for cost or feasibility concerns. School districts facing financial hardship may receive up to two years to comply after a cost-benefit analysis by the education commissioner. The law applies directly to all public school districts and their contractors, aiming for full transition to zero-emission buses by 2047 or when all state vehicle fleets meet the standard.
Enacts the "media literacy act"; requires teachers and library media specialists to complete professional development related to media literacy education; requires a school library media specialist in each elementary, intermediate, middle, junior high and senior high school; directs the commissioner of education to appoint a media literacy advisory committee to study the teaching of media literacy; creates a media literacy advisory committee to annually review policy and procedures on media literacy.
Establishes workplace readiness week to educate minors in relation to their workplace rights; requires eleventh and twelfth graders to receive education on workplace rights; requires a document on workplace rights to be provided to any minor seeking working papers.
This bill repeals two specific provisions in New York's education law that previously required a reduction in state funding for charter schools. It removes paragraph (e) of section 2853 and subdivision 6-g of section 3602, which mandated the funding rollback. As a result, charter schools will no longer be subject to this specific reduction in state aid. The change takes effect immediately upon enactment.
This bill requires all schools to create and enforce anti-harassment policies with specific provisions. It mandates schools to provide safety transfers for students who experience harassment, apply disciplinary measures for harassers, and post policies in the ten most common languages spoken in the district. Schools must train staff and students on preventing harassment, and principals must ensure policies are distributed to all staff, students, and parents. The bill also creates annual public reporting requirements, including yearly statistics on harassment incidents and safety transfers, published on the education department’s website.
Relates to promoting equity and diversity in educational leadership and prioritize the issuance of new charters to community-based organizations run by individuals from historically underrepresented communities.
