Bill > A08325

This bill, known as the "Our Schools Our Rules Act," is designed to prevent the New York State Education Department and Board of Regents from mandating regionalization plans for local school districts. The bill specifically prohibits any state-level regulations that would require school districts, BOCES (Boards of Cooperative Educational Services), charter schools, or private schools to share resources, administrative operations, or instructional services against their will. The legislation stems from concerns that such mandatory regionalization plans would undermine local control of education, potentially dilute educational quality, and impose significant administrative burdens. While the bill blocks compulsory regionalization, it explicitly allows school districts to voluntarily enter into shared service agreements with other educational institutions. The law would ensure that local school districts retain full autonomy over their governance, budgeting, and operational decisions, and it would render null and void any existing or proposed regulations by the commissioner that mandate regionalization plans. The bill aims to preserve the historical approach of local school districts maintaining high educational standards through locally controlled decision-making processes, particularly focusing on districts on Long Island.

Education

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A8325