Bill > A06693

This bill provides New York schools with increased flexibility in how they define and meet their instructional time requirements by allowing districts to choose between operating 180 instructional days or an equivalent number of instructional hours. The legislation aims to help schools, particularly smaller and rural districts, manage operational costs and challenges by giving school boards the discretion to modify their instructional schedules after a thorough review and public comment process. Key provisions include requiring school boards to carefully consider factors such as maintaining educational quality, educational benefits to pupils, impacts on employees and working parents, and potential cost savings. The bill mandates that before implementing a modified schedule, school boards must conduct at least one public hearing with at least 30 days' notice and ensure that the total hours of instruction per year meet the minimum requirements established by the commissioner of education. If a district fails to meet the minimum instructional hours, it will face a proportional reduction in state aid. The bill also updates various sections of the education law to incorporate the new "equivalent hours" language, reflecting a shift from strictly counting instructional days to focusing on the total amount of instructional time students receive.

Education

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A6693