Education

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 2216: Establishes Eid-al-Adha and Eid-al-Fitr as school holidays in public school districts

This bill requires all public schools in New York to close on Eid-al-Adha (the 10th day of Dhul Hijja in the Islamic calendar) and Eid-al-Fitr (the first day of Shawwai), establishing these as official school holidays. It directly affects public school districts across New York State, mandating closures for these two Islamic holidays. The bill also ensures that these holidays are counted as required instructional days for school calendar calculations, preventing any reduction in instructional time. This policy change applies to all public schools and takes effect 120 days after enactment.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates school closures for religious holidays while counting them as instructional days, supporting student access and inclusivity in K-12 education without reducing required instructional time.92% confidence

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 6668: Relates to healthy school meals

Relates to purchases of food products for school meals from New York state farmers, growers, producers or processors; prohibits sale of school foods containing certain synthetic color additives; establishes a "healthy kitchens, healthy schools program" to provide grants for kitchen upgrades; prohibits school meals from containing more than 25 grams of added sugars per day, in aggregate.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesEstablishes grants for school kitchen upgrades, requiring state budget allocation for program funding90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides grants for kitchen upgrades and sets nutritional standards for school meals, enhancing K-12 school infrastructure and student health within education90% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Health

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 5052: Requires high schools to provide a course in financial literacy and requires students to complete such course as a condition of graduation

Requires high schools in grades nine through twelve to provide a course in financial literacy; requires students to complete such course as a condition of graduation.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates financial literacy curriculum as graduation requirement, enhancing student financial education standards and curriculum content.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 3794: Requires schools to accept credits for educational programs at OCFS facilities as transfer credits

This bill (S 3794) requires all New York schools to accept credits earned in educational programs operated by the Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) as valid transfer credits. It directly affects students enrolled in OCFS-run programs and the schools they attend or transfer to. The law mandates that schools must accept these credits regardless of other rules, ensuring coursework completed at OCFS facilities counts toward graduation requirements. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates schools to accept OCFS program credits as transfer credits, removing barriers to educational continuity and expanding access for students in OCFS facilities.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 6215: Relates to hunting, fishing and outdoor education in high school physical education courses

This bill requires public high schools to offer hunting, fishing, and outdoor education as a component of physical education courses upon request by 10 or more enrolled students. It mandates that schools provide curriculum covering hunting/fishing seasons, allowable species, license requirements, recreational opportunities, and historical context of these activities. The curriculum must be developed jointly by the education and environmental conservation departments and align with existing licensing course content. This policy directly affects high school students and physical education programs in New York State, adding structured outdoor skills education to existing PE offerings.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates new curriculum component in high school PE, enhancing student programs per education topic indicators without restricting or defunding.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 96: Relates to instruction in financial management

This bill requires all New York school districts to provide financial management instruction to students in grades four through eight. It mandates curriculum covering practical topics like budgeting, saving, credit, debt, and insurance to build personal financial responsibility skills. The state education commissioner must establish program regulations, develop age-appropriate model materials, and offer technical assistance for curriculum design. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, with immediate rulemaking authorized for implementation.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates financial literacy curriculum for grades 4-8, enhancing student financial education programs through state-regulated instruction on budgeting and debt management.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 4623: Relates to requiring the board of regents to obtain legislative approval of any rule or regulation containing an unfunded mandate

Bill S 4623 requires the Board of Regents to obtain legislative approval (via a majority vote in the legislature) before adopting any rule or regulation that imposes an "unfunded mandate" on school districts. An unfunded mandate is defined as a rule requiring schools to pay for new programs, higher service levels, or other costs without additional state funding, or rules likely to raise local property taxes. This directly affects school districts (which would bear the costs) and the Board of Regents (which must seek legislative consent for such rules). The bill creates a specific process to prevent new financial burdens on schools without legislative oversight.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesPrevents unfunded mandates forcing school districts to cover costs without state funds or raise local property taxes, promoting fiscal responsibility and protecting budgets.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationPrevents unfunded mandates on school districts, protecting existing budgets from new costs without state funding, aligning with 'protect' under support stance.85% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget

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in committee · New York · Assembly Apr 24, 2026

A 6746: Provides for inclusive instruction and instructional materials

Requires school districts and charter schools to establish a task force to make recommendations on model curriculum or instruction on the political, economic, and social contributions of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual people, in an appropriate place in the curriculum of middle school and high school students.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates inclusion of LGBTQ+ contributions in K-12 curriculum, directly enhancing educational content diversity per topic description.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 8035: Relates to building aid for incremental zero-emission school bus infrastructure costs

Bill A 8035 authorizes additional building aid for school districts to help cover specific infrastructure costs associated with zero-emission school buses. This aid addresses "incremental zero-emission school bus storage costs," which include modifications to bus facilities, specialized equipment, and advanced fire suppression systems. It also covers "incremental customer-owned make-ready costs" for infrastructure needed to install electric vehicle chargers. The aid applies to approved expenditures incurred through the 2034-2035 school year, provided these costs are not reimbursed by other state, federal, or utility funding sources. This measure aims to assist school districts with the necessary infrastructure investments for transitioning to zero-emission school bus fleets.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill authorizes state building aid for school infrastructure costs, increasing public spending on essential services like zero-emission bus infrastructure.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill authorizes additional building aid for school bus infrastructure costs, directly funding facility upgrades (storage, chargers) related to zero-emission buses, advancing school infrastructure support.90% confidence ✓ EnergySupports EnergyFunds zero-emission school bus infrastructure including EV chargers and storage, directly advancing clean energy adoption and reducing fossil fuel dependence.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentFunds infrastructure for zero-emission school buses, reducing emissions and promoting clean energy adoption in transportation.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationFunds zero-emission school bus infrastructure, promoting sustainable transportation through targeted aid for EV charging and facility modifications.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Transportation Electric Vehicles Electric Vehicles Public Transit

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 5373: Relates to protecting students, faculty, and staff from immigration enforcement while attending or participating in school activities

Prohibits immigration enforcement in school settings; prohibits all public and charter schools from allowing law enforcement officials inside school property to access a student, except to address an imminent safety situation or if they have an appropriate judicial warrant or judicial order.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationProhibits immigration enforcement in schools, protecting students/faculty from disruptions and ensuring safe educational access, directly supporting school safety and access.95% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationBill prohibits immigration enforcement in schools and limits law enforcement access for immigration purposes, directly protecting students/staff from enforcement.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety Driver Licenses & IDs Enforcement Sanctuary Policies

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