Education

in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 4913: Allows taxpayers to contribute to the tuition assistance program on personal income tax forms

Allows taxpayers to contribute to the tuition assistance program fund on personal income tax forms; establishes the gifts to the tuition assistance program fund.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill enables tax contributions to tuition assistance fund, increasing voluntary education funding for students.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Financial Aid

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 250: Establishes the education equity act which provides language assistance to parents/guardians who have children enrolled in public school and who do not speak English

Establishes the "education equity act" which provides language assistance to parents or guardians who have children enrolled in public school and whose primary language is not English; defines terms; creates an annual language assistance plan to assess language needs in the district; requires the department of education to establish web pages detailing the rights of parents to translation services in each covered language; requires annual reports by each school district to the local board of education.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill provides language assistance to non-English speaking parents, enhancing educational access and equity for families in public schools.95% confidence

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in committee · New York · Senate May 5, 2026

S 16: Enacts Jacobe's Law

S 16, "Jacobe's Law," requires school staff to contact parents or guardians when bullying or harassment is confirmed involving a student. School counselors, principals, or other designated staff must first discuss with the student whether contacting parents would raise health, safety, or privacy concerns before making reasonable efforts to notify them via phone, email, or mail. The law also protects individuals who report bullying or harassment in good faith from retaliation or legal liability. This affects students involved in such incidents, their parents/guardians, and school staff responsible for handling reports.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates bullying reporting protocols and protects reporters from retaliation, enhancing student safety in schools.85% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety Student Health

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 1660: Relates to mandatory continuing education for teachers relating to mental health issues

This bill (A 1660) requires New York teachers and school leaders to complete mandatory mental health-related training as part of their continuing education for license renewal. It mandates the development of course materials covering topics like identifying mental health signs, crisis de-escalation, eating disorders, and behavioral health disorders, to be included in existing continuing education requirements. Teachers must complete this training at least twice during each five-year license renewal period. The policy directly affects all licensed K-12 educators in New York who need to maintain their teaching credentials. The bill specifies that training must include evidence-based programs like Mental Health First Aid, without changing the overall 100-hour continuing education requirement.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates mental health training for teachers, strengthening educator preparedness and student mental health support in schools.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates mental health training for teachers to identify issues and de-escalate crises, strengthening school-based mental health support.95% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education Student Health

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in committee · New York · Senate Jun 5, 2026

S 7726: Establishes interschool robotics competitions for certain schools

Directs the commissioner of education to promulgate and review as necessary rules and regulations allowing trustees and boards of education of schools with a robotics program to conduct interschool robotics competitions for grades nine through twelve equivalent to the interschool athletic competitions conducted by such schools.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill mandates new robotics competitions for grades 9-12, expanding student program access in STEM education equivalent to athletic programs, directly enhancing educational opportunities.95% confidence

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 4668: Awards high school diplomas to veterans; repealer

This bill creates a program allowing veterans who served honorably in the U.S. military but couldn't complete high school to earn a diploma based on their service experience. It removes outdated requirements (like limiting eligibility to World War II veterans) and directs the education commissioner to develop the program. The law takes effect immediately, enabling eligible veterans to receive diplomas without needing to complete traditional coursework. This directly affects veterans who left school early for military service, offering a formal recognition of their skills gained during service.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands educational access for veterans by creating diploma pathway without traditional coursework, directly aligning with 'expands educational access' support indicator.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransCreates diploma program for veterans who left school for military service, expanding educational benefits without traditional requirements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education Memorials & Recognition Veteran Education Veteran Employment

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 3937: Requires the incorporation of structured, explicit, language and evidence-based approaches to literacy instruction for prospective teachers

Requires the commissioner of education to establish and enforce rules and regulations to incorporate at least a three credit course devoted to the instructional techniques necessary for effective literacy instruction which shall include delivering structured, systematic, explicit, evidence-based instruction aligned with the science of reading for prospective teachers.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates evidence-based literacy training for prospective teachers, enhancing teacher preparation and aligning with science of reading to improve educational quality.90% confidence

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failed · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 4205: Directs the board of trustees of the state university of New York and the board of trustees of the city university of New York to develop and administer the tuition exemption for law enforcement program

Directs the board of trustees of the state university of New York and the board of trustees of the city university of New York to develop and administer the tuition exemption for law enforcement program, which exempts police officers enrolled in full-time or part-time degree programs at the state university of New York or the city university of New York, including community colleges, from tuition and fees for the duration of their enrollment.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill provides tuition exemption for law enforcement officers at SUNY/CUNY, expanding access to higher education for a specific group within educational access policies.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 7637: Establishes the commission for agricultural education excellence to assist in developing a statewide plan for increasing agricultural literacy and supporting agricultural education

Establishes the commission for agricultural education excellence to assist in developing a statewide plan for increasing agricultural literacy and supporting agricultural education; provides for the membership and powers and duties of such commission; requires the commission to file an annual report with the governor and the legislature.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEstablishes commission to develop statewide agricultural education plan, supporting K-12 curriculum and literacy initiatives per bill's purpose.90% confidence

Tags Agriculture

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 6594: Provides school preference when a student is applying to the same public elementary or middle school as a sibling

Provides that in a city with a population of one million or more, where a student is applying to attend a public elementary or middle school and such student has a sibling who already attends such school, such student whose application is pending shall be given preference for admission.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill provides sibling preference in school admission, expanding access for students with siblings attending the same school in large cities.85% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education

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