Education

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 5861: Relates to a net price calculator center for colleges on the website of the higher education services corporation

This bill requires New York's Higher Education Services Corporation to create a single, centralized net price calculator tool on its website. The tool will estimate the actual cost of attending any college in the state after accounting for non-repayable financial aid (like grants), using household income and assets entered once by the user. It replaces linking to individual college calculators by compiling data from all institutions into one accessible platform, using the most recent tuition and fee information reported by colleges. This directly affects students and families researching college affordability by providing a standardized, state-wide cost estimate.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationCentralizes college cost calculator to improve affordability transparency and access for students, directly enhancing educational access in higher education.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Student Financial Aid

Track

passed · New York · Assembly Mar 3, 2025

K 145: Memorializing Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim March 2-8, 2025, as School Social Worker Week in the State of New York

This resolution (Assembly Resolution 145) asks Governor Hochul to symbolically recognize March 2-8, 2025, as School Social Worker Week in New York. It honors school social workers for supporting students facing mental health challenges, poverty, or other barriers to learning, and for contributing to high graduation rates. The resolution does not create new laws or funding; it is a non-binding request for the governor to issue a proclamation. It directly affects school social workers by publicly acknowledging their role in student success. The resolution was adopted by the Assembly on March 3, 2025.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationHonors school social workers' role in student success and mental health support, symbolically strengthening recognition of educational staff contributions.80% confidence

Track

in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 8440: Relates to education transportation contracts

This bill amends education law to require school districts in cities with at least one million inhabitants to include specific provisions in their school transportation contracts. These provisions mandate the retention or preferential hiring of school bus workers, such as operators, mechanics, dispatchers, and attendants. It also ensures the preservation of their wages, health, welfare, retirement benefits, and seniority when they are hired under these new contract terms. This applies to workers who become unemployed or furloughed due to changes in these transportation contracts.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill mandates protections for school bus workers' benefits and job security, ensuring reliable transportation for students and supporting school operations within education system.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates preservation of wages, benefits, and seniority for school bus workers under new contracts, protecting existing employment terms.90% confidence

Sub-Topics School Transportation

Track

in committee · New York · Senate Jun 11, 2025

S 5539: Requires schools safety plans to include a cardiac emergency response plan

Requires schools safety plans to include a cardiac emergency response plan that addresses the use of appropriate personnel and measures to respond to incidents involving any individual experiencing sudden cardiac arrest or similar life-threatening emergency on any school site owned or operated by a school or at a location of a school sponsored event.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates cardiac emergency response plans in school safety protocols, enhancing student safety and protection within K-12 school environments.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety

Track

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 1674: Creates a tax credit for employers who help reduce higher education loans of their employees

This bill creates a tax credit for New York employers who pay down their employees' undergraduate student loan debt. Employers can claim a credit equal to the amount they pay toward an employee's federal, state, or institutional undergraduate loan debt (including interest), up to $10,000 per employee annually. The credit applies to loans related to undergraduate programs and covers both principal and interest payments. It directly affects employers who choose to assist employees with student debt and employees who receive this financial support.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates tax credit for employers reducing student debt, providing tax relief per bill's explicit tax credit mechanism.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill reduces undergraduate student debt burden via employer tax credits, directly expanding higher education affordability and access for employees.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProvides employer tax credit for reducing employee student debt, enhancing financial stability and expanding non-wage worker benefits per Labor & Employment topic description.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Tax Credits Student Financial Aid

Track

died · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 3810: Relates to graduate tuition assistance program awards

Establishes graduate tuition assistance program awards; sets amounts of such awards; provides for restrictions on such awards; makes related provisions.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill establishes graduate tuition assistance program awards, providing direct funding for higher education access and reducing financial barriers for graduate students.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Financial Aid

Track

in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 3449: Relates to establishing the COVID-19 children scholarship

Relates to establishing the COVID-19 children scholarship; provides that children whose parent, primary caretaker or sibling died or was disabled as a result of contracting COVID-19 shall be eligible for such scholarship.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides scholarship funding for education access to children affected by COVID-19, directly advancing educational opportunity through financial support.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Financial Aid

Track

in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 7245: Allows the higher education services corporation to consider an applicant's change in income due to the loss of employment in determining eligibility and award amount for the tuition assistance program

Allows the higher education services corporation to consider an applicant's change in income due to the loss of employment in determining eligibility and award amount for the tuition assistance program.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAdjusts tuition assistance eligibility to account for job loss income changes, expanding access to higher education funding for economically impacted students.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Financial Aid

Track

in committee · New York · Senate May 27, 2025

S 3783: Relates to mandatory continuing education for teachers relating to mental health issues and trauma informed care

This bill requires New York teachers and school leaders to complete at least 10 hours of mandatory continuing education every five years focused on mental health and trauma-informed care, as part of their existing 100-hour license renewal requirement. It directs the health and education departments to develop course materials covering topics like identifying mental health concerns, trauma-informed practices, crisis de-escalation, and adverse childhood experiences. The training must include evidence-based programs such as mental health first aid and will be integrated into standard professional development. This directly affects all licensed educators renewing their credentials after 2026, aligning their professional development with mental health support for students.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates teacher training on mental health/trauma-informed care, enhancing educator preparedness and student support within K-12 education framework.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates mental health training for teachers, directly supporting school-based mental health services and trauma-informed care as part of educator requirements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Health

Track

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 41: Directs the office of mental health to develop materials relating to suicide prevention for school-aged children; authorizes school districts to include suicide prevention in health class curriculum

Directs the office of mental health to develop materials relating to suicide prevention and identifying signs of depression for school-aged children; authorizes school districts to include suicide prevention in health class curriculum.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAuthorizes school districts to include suicide prevention in health curriculum, enhancing student mental health education and supporting school-based health programs within K-12 education framework.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates mental health prevention materials and curriculum inclusion, directly supporting mental health services in schools.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum School Safety Student Health Mental Health

Track