Provides that each public elementary and secondary school building shall be equipped with at least one panic alarm for use in a school security emergency including, but not limited to, a non-fire evacuation, lockdown, or active shooter situation; defines terms; makes related provisions.
Directs the commissioner of education to develop a program and provide for a system whereby teachers may submit examination receipts for any New York state teaching certifications earned after the first permanent teaching certification for reimbursement by the department of education for any additional certifications.
Requires school districts to provide instructional programming and services in reading and literacy which are evidence based and aligned with state standards; requires teachers in grades pre-K through five to attend professional development courses in reading education.
Provides that the commissioner of education may also withhold from any district or city its share of the public money of the state for willfully disobeying any provision of law, or for such decisions, orders or regulations as aforesaid whose willful violation constitutes an immediate threat to the health, safety, education or welfare of students, employees or visitors at such common school, educational institution, school district or public school.
Relates to permitting students made homeless by an act of terrorism or natural disaster to attend the school district in which they resided for two school years after the event.
Provides for a temporary exemption to limitations upon school district tax levies to school districts who experience a loss of a payment in lieu of taxes agreement due to the closure of a nuclear power plant.
Enacts the "schools impacted by gross highways (SIGH) act"; prohibits the commissioner of education from approving the plans for the erection of any new schoolhouse within five hundred feet of a controlled-access highway unless the commissioner of education determines that space limitations are so severe that there is no other site to erect such new schoolhouse, and there are adequate engineering controls to address air quality; makes related provisions.
Relates to payment of moneys due for prior years; provides that if a school district is owed funds on the prior year adjustment list maintained by the department, prior to deducting any money, the department shall first offset the overpayment amount by the total amount owed on such list regardless of the district's priority date status.