Enacts the "freedom to read act"; requires the commissioner of education and school library systems to develop policies to ensure that school libraries and library staff are empowered to curate and develop collections that provide students with access to the widest array of developmentally appropriate materials available.
Establishes the first of April as the annual reporting deadline for the basic educational data system (BEDS); imposes some additional requirements for calculating and reporting a school's student population.
Requires that parents of students at student orientations, back to school nights, or other beginning of year events, at schools that participate in the national school lunch program or school breakfast program, receive notification of eligibility, and access to application, for free or reduced price meals for students.
Establishes a half-credit course in financial education delivered by means of a comprehensive financial literacy program for all pupils in grades nine, ten, eleven or twelve.
Requires the appointment of an independent fiduciary upon the closing of a charter school to develop and implement the dissolution plan of such charter school, including the distribution of assets.
Prohibits the use of certain restraints and aversive interventions against students; includes policies and procedures for responding to students who have mental health crises in school safety plans; provides that no student shall be subjected to chemical restraints, mechanical restraints, or seclusion on school property; requires the board of education or trustees of each public school and school district to develop a procedure to notify the parent or legal guardian of a student on the same day a physical restraint is applied on such student, such student is placed in a time out room, or such student is subjected to a prohibited form of discipline.
Creates an after-school challenge program to provide schools with up to $50,000 in matching funds for resources raised in private donations to support after-school programs which are curriculum based or community service programs.
Relates to the apportionment of expenses for central high school districts; includes the total assessed value of payment in lieu of taxes in apportionment calculation.
Relates to including at least one person who is familiar with the needs of students with disabilities in the development of school safety plans; provides that building-level response plans shall include a list including each student with a disability enrolled at the site together with information from the student's individualized education program (IEP) that is relevant to ensuring the student's safety and the role of the staff member responsible for assisting the student in an emergency.
Establishes a task force to conduct a comprehensive study on the presence of educator diversity in the state, state actions taken to promote educator diversity, and how the state can encourage new initiatives to enhance and promote educator diversity in New York; provides for the repeal of such provisions upon the expiration thereof.