Bill > S04107

This bill introduces several significant changes to education policy in New York City, focusing on specialized high schools and middle school education. The bill authorizes the chancellor of the city school district to establish new procedures for the specialized high school admissions test, requiring all eighth-grade public school students to take the test starting in the 2026-2027 academic year, with an option for parents to opt out. The chancellor must conduct periodic studies on the test's validity and potential bias, and the results must be publicly published. Additionally, the bill mandates the creation of at least ten new specialized high schools by the 2028-2029 academic year, with a focus on geographic diversity. The chancellor is also required to develop a free test preparation program for sixth and seventh-grade students, including Saturday classes, summer sessions, and free transportation and meals. Furthermore, the bill establishes a 15-member Commission on Middle School Achievement, composed of appointees from the governor, senate majority leader, and assembly speaker, to comprehensively review and assess New York City's middle schools, identifying successful strategies and making recommendations to improve educational outcomes. The commission is tasked with studying various aspects of middle school education, including teacher performance, student achievement factors, parent engagement, and school structure, with a deadline to submit final recommendations by December 31, 2025.

Education

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S4107