NY State Senate Bill 2025-S5218

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Education Committee

Introduced
- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
Delivered to Governor
Signed By Governor

Please enter your contact information

First Name

Last Name

Email Address

A valid email address is required.

Home address is used to determine the senate district in which you reside. Your support or opposition to this bill is then shared immediately with the senator who represents you.

Optional services from the NY State Senate:

Create an account. An account allows you to officially support or oppose key legislation, sign petitions with a single click, and follow issues, committees, and bills that matter to you. When you create an account, you agree to this platform's terms of participation.

Include a custom message for your Senator? (Optional)

Enter a message to your senator. Many New Yorkers use this to share the reasoning behind their support or opposition to the bill. Others might share a personal anecdote about how the bill would affect them or people they care about.

Actions

View Actions

Date of Action	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Feb 19, 2025	referred to education

2025-S5218 (ACTIVE) - Details

Current Committee:: Senate Education
Law Section:: Education Law
Laws Affected:: Amd §305, Ed L
Versions Introduced in 2023-2024 Legislative Session:: S5960

2025-S5218 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Authorizes the commissioner of education to implement a purple star schools program to recognize schools and school districts which demonstrate a commitment to assisting military-connected students and their families.

2025-S5218 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S5218

SPONSOR: SCARCELLA-SPANTON
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the education law, in relation to authorizing the
commissioner of education to implement a purple star schools program

 
PURPOSE:

Authorizes the commissioner of education to establish a purple star
schools program.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 of the bill amends § 305 of the Education Law in relation to
the powers and duties of the commissioner by authorizing the commission-
er to establish a purple star schools program, which, upon application
of a school or school district, is a designation that shall be awarded
to a school who has:

(1) appointed a military liaison,

(2) created a website of resources for military-connected students,

(3) maintained a transition program for military-connected students,

(4) offer staff professional development on military-connected student
issues,

(5) monitored the academic progress of military-connected students,

(6) either

(a) passed a resolution in support of military-connected students,

(b) hosted an event in support of military-connected students or

(c) offered volunteer opportunities at the campus for military members.
A school or school district may partner with a third party to administer
these provisions. The commissioner may promulgate rules to design the
program.

Section 2 establishes the effective date.

 
EXISTING LAW:

All New York schools currently participate in the Military Interstate
Children's Compact, which provides technical assistance for active-duty
military-connected students on certain issues pertaining to placement,
records, immunizations and graduation but does not encompass the service
indicators set forth in this legislation.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

The Department of Defense recommends states help schools to make assess-
ments so that critical information is easily accessible to military
connected students, military families, school and school district facul-
ty and staff by creating a statewide Purple Star Schools program. Purple
Star Schools are military-friendly schools that have demonstrated a
major commitment to students and families connected to our nation's
military. Designated schools have met specific state designed require-
ments to support the unique situations facing military students and
their families.

As our military members and their families move from state to state,
providing for a smooth educational transition for their children is key
to eliminating one of the largest concerns the parents face. The clarity
and precision derived from New York communicating clear expectations and
responsibilities at the state level ensures standardization and creates
consistency as the program scales and families move more frequently
between Purple Star schools, even to and from other states.

As New York is already home to 26,777 active-duty service members,
10,145 active-duty spouses, 16,494 active-duty children, 40,851 National
Guard and reserve members, 16,695 National Guard and reserve spouses and
22,650 National Guard and reserve children, it has the benefit of being
able to draw upon existing expertise and engagement with existing stake-
holders.

Thirteen states have created statewide Purple Star School Programs. By
utilizing the best practices identified by the Department of Defense,
this legislation gives New York the potential to create a robust network
of local, state, and national stakeholders and cultivate competency in
the area of military-connected student transition, offering New York's
Purple Star Schools the opportunity to demonstrate their cultural fluen-
cy to parents and families.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2024; Held in Senate Education Committee.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

At the state level, schools will need to apply for the designation.  The
commissioner will therefore need to establish the program, develop
guidelines, related forms and documents to administer the program.

Existing education department staff may need to provide professional
development to schools and school systems to raise awareness and explain
programmatic requirements on a part-time basis, as well as review appli-
cations to determine if schools meet the qualifications to achieve the
designation. There will also be a minimal annual cost for banners,
certificates or some form of recognition for a designated school, supply
costs which can be covered with existing resources. To the extent, a
school or schools wish to be recognized as a Purple Star School, there
may be no cost as they already meet the criterion to achieve the desig-
nation, or there may be operational changes required that could be
managed with existing resources.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.

2025-S5218 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   5218
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             February 19, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by Sen. SCARCELLA-SPANTON -- read twice and ordered printed,
   and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Education
 
 AN ACT to amend the  education  law,  in  relation  to  authorizing  the
   commissioner of education to implement a purple star schools program

   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. Section 305 of the education law is amended by adding a new
 subdivision 63 to read as follows:
   63. THE COMMISSIONER SHALL ESTABLISH A "PURPLE STAR  SCHOOLS  PROGRAM"
 TO RECOGNIZE SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS WHICH DEMONSTRATE A COMMITMENT
 TO ASSISTING MILITARY-CONNECTED STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES.
   A.  THE COMMISSIONER, OR SUCH COMMISSIONER'S DESIGNEE, SHALL DESIGNATE
 A SCHOOL AS A "PURPLE STAR SCHOOL"  UPON  APPLICATION  OF  A  SCHOOL  OR
 SCHOOL DISTRICT WHICH:
   (I)  HAS  DESIGNATED A STAFF MEMBER AS A MILITARY LIAISON WHOSE DUTIES
 INCLUDE: (A) IDENTIFYING MILITARY-CONNECTED  STUDENTS  ENROLLED  IN  THE
 DISTRICT;  (B)  SERVING  AS  THE  POINT OF CONTACT BETWEEN THE SCHOOL OR
 SCHOOL DISTRICT AND SUCH STUDENTS; (C)  DETERMINING  APPROPRIATE  CAMPUS
 SERVICES  AVAILABLE TO MILITARY-CONNECTED STUDENTS; AND (D) ASSISTING IN
 COORDINATING CAMPUS PROGRAMS RELEVANT TO MILITARY-CONNECTED STUDENTS;
   (II) MAINTAINS ON ITS WEBSITE AN EASILY ACCESSIBLE PAGE THAT  INCLUDES
 RESOURCES  FOR MILITARY-CONNECTED STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES, INCLUDING
 INFORMATION REGARDING: (A) RELOCATION TO,  ENROLLMENT  AT,  REGISTRATION
 AT,  AND  TRANSFERRING  RECORDS  TO  THE  CAMPUS; (B) ACADEMIC PLANNING,
 COURSE SEQUENCES, AND ADVANCED CLASSES  AVAILABLE  AT  THE  CAMPUS;  (C)
 COUNSELING  AND  OTHER SUPPORT SERVICES AVAILABLE FOR MILITARY-CONNECTED
 STUDENTS ENROLLED AT THE CAMPUS; (D)  THE  MILITARY  LIAISON  DESIGNATED
 UNDER SUBPARAGRAPH (I) OF THIS PARAGRAPH, AND THE LIAISON'S DUTIES UNDER
 SUCH  SUBPARAGRAPH;  AND (E) THE STATE MILITARY FAMILY EDUCATION LIAISON
 DESIGNATED PURSUANT TO SECTION THIRTY-THREE HUNDRED EIGHT OF THIS  CHAP-
 TER;
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD08231-01-5

 S. 5218                             2
 
   (III)  MAINTAINS A TRANSITION PROGRAM LED BY STUDENTS, WHERE APPROPRI-
 ATE, THAT ASSISTS MILITARY-CONNECTED STUDENTS IN TRANSITIONING INTO  THE
 CAMPUS;
   (IV)  OFFERS  PROFESSIONAL  DEVELOPMENT  FOR  STAFF  MEMBERS ON ISSUES
 RELATED TO MILITARY-CONNECTED STUDENTS;
   (V) FOR PURPOSES OF MONITORING ACADEMIC PROGRESS OF MILITARY-CONNECTED
 STUDENTS, INCLUDES AN IDENTIFIER ON THE STUDENT RECORD  OF  A  MILITARY-
 CONNECTED  STUDENT  AND  INCLUDE  IN  THE  BASIC EDUCATIONAL DATA SYSTEM
 REPORTS (BEDS), THE NUMBER OF MILITARY-CONNECTED  STUDENTS  ENROLLED  IN
 SUCH SCHOOL OR SCHOOL DISTRICT; AND
   (VI)  THE  BOARD  OF EDUCATION OR OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY AUTHORIZED TO
 ACT ON BEHALF OF THE SCHOOL OR SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS EITHER: (A) ISSUED  A
 RESOLUTION,  PROCLAMATION,  OR  OTHER  OFFICIAL STATEMENT OF SUPPORT FOR
 MILITARY-CONNECTED STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES; OR (B) ISSUED  A  RESOL-
 UTION,  PROCLAMATION,  OR OTHER OFFICIAL STATEMENT RECOGNIZING THE MONTH
 OF APRIL AS THE "MONTH OF THE MILITARY CHILD" AND/OR THE MONTH OF NOVEM-
 BER AS "MILITARY FAMILY MONTH" AND HAS HOSTED EVENTS ON CAMPUS CELEBRAT-
 ING EITHER OR BOTH; OR (C) ENTERED INTO A PARTNERSHIP  WITH  A  MILITARY
 INSTALLATION,  NATIONAL  GUARD  ARMORY  OR  RESERVE CENTER THAT PROVIDES
 OPPORTUNITIES FOR MILITARY MEMBERS TO VOLUNTEER AT THE CAMPUS, SPEAK  AT
 AN ASSEMBLY, HOST A FIELD TRIP, OR PARTICIPATE IN SUCH OTHER EDUCATIONAL
 ACTIVITIES  AS  THE  COMMISSIONER  OR SUCH COMMISSIONER'S DESIGNEE DEEMS
 APPROPRIATE.
   B. A SCHOOL OR SCHOOL DISTRICT MAY  PARTNER  WITH  A  THIRD  PARTY  TO
 PROVIDE  THOSE  SERVICES  AND INITIATIVES SPECIFIED UNDER PARAGRAPH A OF
 THIS SUBDIVISION.
   C. THE COMMISSIONER MAY PROMULGATE RULES TO EFFECTUATE THE PURPOSES OF
 THIS SUBDIVISION.
   D. AS USED IN THIS SUBDIVISION, "MILITARY-CONNECTED STUDENT"  MEANS  A
 SCHOOL-AGED  CHILD ENROLLED IN KINDERGARTEN THROUGH TWELFTH GRADE IN THE
 HOUSEHOLD OF AN ACTIVE DUTY MEMBER OF  THE  UNITED  STATES  MILITARY,  A
 RESERVE  FORCE  OF  THE UNITED STATES MILITARY, THE ORGANIZED MILITIA OF
 THIS STATE OR ANY OTHER STATE.
   § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.

Comments

Open Legislation is a forum for New York State legislation. All comments are subject to review and community moderation is encouraged.

Comments deemed off-topic, commercial, campaign-related, self-promotional; or that contain profanity, hate or toxic speech; or that link to sites outside of the nysenate.gov domain are not permitted, and will not be published. Attempts to intimidate and silence contributors or deliberately deceive the public, including excessive or extraneous posting/posts, or coordinated activity, are prohibited and may result in the temporary or permanent banning of the user. Comment moderation is generally performed Monday through Friday. By contributing or voting you agree to the Terms of Participation and verify you are over 13.

Create an account. An account allows you to sign petitions with a single click, officially support or oppose key legislation, and follow issues, committees, and bills that matter to you. When you create an account, you agree to this platform's terms of participation.

Find your Senator and share your views on important issues.

Do you support this bill?

Senate Bill S5218

Sponsored By

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Education Committee

Actions

2025-S5218 (ACTIVE) - Details

2025-S5218 (ACTIVE) - Summary

2025-S5218 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2025-S5218 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments

Do you support this bill?

Get Status Alerts for 2025-S5218

Senate Bill S5218

Share this bill

Sponsored By

Jessica Scarcella-Spanton

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Education Committee

Actions

2025-S5218 (ACTIVE) - Details

2025-S5218 (ACTIVE) - Summary

2025-S5218 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2025-S5218 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments