S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
7365
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
April 26, 2019
___________
Introduced by M. of A. WALLACE -- read once and referred to the Commit-
tee on Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to requiring schools not
be in session on general or primary election days
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Subdivision 8 of section 3604 of the education law, as
amended by chapter 260 of the laws of 2012, is amended to read as
follows:
8. No school shall be in session on a Saturday, GENERAL OR PRIMARY
ELECTION DAY or a legal holiday, except [general election day,]
Washington's birthday and Lincoln's birthday, and except that driver
education classes may be conducted on a Saturday. A SCHOOL DISTRICT MAY
ELECT TO REQUIRE STAFF ATTENDANCE ON A GENERAL OR PRIMARY ELECTION DAY
OR TO SCHEDULE A PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT DAY. A deficiency not exceed-
ing four days during any school year caused by teachers' attendance upon
conferences held by superintendents of schools of city school districts
or other school districts employing superintendents of schools shall be
excused by the commissioner, notwithstanding any provision of law, rule
or regulation to the contrary, a school district may elect to schedule
such conference days in the last two weeks of August, subject to collec-
tive bargaining requirements pursuant to article fourteen of the civil
service law, and such days shall be counted towards the required one
hundred eighty days of session, provided however, that such scheduling
shall not alter the obligation of the school district to provide trans-
portation to students in non-public elementary and secondary schools or
charter schools. The commissioner shall excuse a deficiency not exceed-
ing four days during such school year caused by teachers' attendance
upon conferences held by such superintendents, provided that at least
two such conference days during such school year shall be dedicated to
staff attendance upon conferences providing staff development relating
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD11093-02-9
A. 7365 2
to implementation of the new high learning standards and assessments, as
adopted by the board of regents. Notwithstanding any other provision of
law, rule or regulation to the contrary, school districts may elect to
use one or more of such allowable conference days in units of not less
than one hour each to provide staff development activities relating to
implementation of the new high learning standards and assessments. A
district making such election may provide such staff development during
the regularly scheduled daily session and apply such units to satisfy a
deficiency in the length of one or more daily sessions of instruction
for pupils as specified in regulations of the commissioner. The commis-
sioner shall assure that such conference days include appropriate school
violence prevention and intervention training, and may require that up
to one such conference day be dedicated for such purpose.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the first of July next succeeding
the date on which it shall have become a law.