Requires the commissioner of education of the state of New York to conduct a study on the sufficiency of current education aid apportionment formulas, make recommendations for improvements to such formulas and deliver a report of such findings and recommendations and provides for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof.
Improves the transportation of children with special needs to and from school; provides that bussing time shall not exceed one and one-half hours; provides a special needs liaison to work with each family with a child with special needs; makes related provisions.
Authorizes certain school districts to establish excess tuition reserve funds; applies only to school districts with an enrollment of fifteen hundred students or less where the total cost of tuition payments to other school districts is one million dollars or more.
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.
Provides that where a pupil may be considered a dangerous threat to himself, herself, or others, such pupil may be suspended for no more than ten days prior to a hearing taking place to allow the school to have adequate time to make an evaluation on the pupil's mental health, which may include a psychiatric evaluation, and the risk of danger to others and to consult with law enforcement.
Provides that a minor from six to sixteen years being absent from full time day instruction for the purpose of sounding "Taps" at a military honors funeral held in this state for a deceased veteran shall be excused from school.
Increases the phase-in period, in which the boards of education or trustees of school districts participating in a proposed reorganization may opt to have the tax impact of such reorganization, from 10 to 20 years.
Provides for the viewing of photo or video footage captured by a camera installed inside a school bus, by a parent or guardian of a pupil, when such parent, guardian or pupil reports any incident of physical harm, harassment, intimidation or bullying occurring against the pupil while such pupil travelled on such school bus.
Enacts the "learning for work act"; establishes the youth apprenticeship program and the enhanced regents professional diploma; appropriates moneys therefor.