NY State Senate Bill 2025-S6236

Senate Bill S6236

2025-2026 Legislative Session

Relates to delaying the implementation of class size reduction plans and including additional exemptions to class size targets

download bill text pdf

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee New York City 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

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	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Mar 07, 2025	referred to new york city education

2025-S6236 (ACTIVE) - Details

Current Committee:: Senate New York City Education
Law Section:: Education Law
Laws Affected:: Amd §211-d, Ed L

2025-S6236 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Relates to delaying the implementation of class size reduction plans and including additional exemptions to class size targets; provides such plans shall begin in September 2031 and be achieved by September 2036; adds gifted and talented schools and programs, screened admissions schools and programs, portfolio and specialized high schools and advanced placement classes; requires parents at each respective school be included on any discussions regarding class size exemptions.

2025-S6236 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S6236

SPONSOR: CHAN
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the education law, in relation to delaying the implemen-
tation of class size reduction plans and including additional exemptions
to class size targets

 
PURPOSE:

To provide additional flexibility in the implementation of class size
reductions, ensuring that high-demand programs and schools are not
adversely impacted, and that communities have adequate time and input in
the process.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

*Section 1 amends the Education Law to, delay compliance with class size
reductions indefinitely for overcrowded programs, schools, or districts
until such time as additional space can be identified, designed, funded,
and constructed.

*Section 2 adds additional exemptions to the class size reduction
mandates, specifically including:

(1) Gifted & Talented Programs

(2) Screened Admission Schools and Programs

(3) Portfolio and Specialized High Schools Advanced Placement (AP)
Classes

*Section 3 requires that parents, through School Leadership Teams
(SLTs), be included in discussions regarding class size exernptions at
their respective schools.

*Section 4 establishes the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

The implementation of class size mandates under S9460 presents numerous
logistical challenges that could negatively impact students, particular-
ly in high-demand programs and over-enrolled districts. While reducing
class sizes is a worthy goal, current implementation timelines and rigid
mandates fail to account for the following realities:

1. High-Demand Schools and Programs: Gifted and Talented programs,
specialized high schools, and Advanced Placement courses often serve
larger class sizes to meet demand. Mandating smaller class sizes in
these settings would limit enrollment and deny access to academically
qualified students.

2. Space Limitations: Many schools, particularly in growing communities
such as northeast Queens and south Brooklyn, lack the physical space to
create additional classrooms. Without proper expansion, class size
mandates will lead to student displacement, school rezonings, or the use
of trailers for classrooms.

3. Negative Impact on Families: Many families rely on their zoned neigh-
borhood schools, which may exceed mandated class size limits.  Enforcing
reductions could force children to attend schools further from their
homes, disrupting communities.

4. Extended Planning and Construction Timeframes: The process of site
selection, community engagement, and school construction requires years
of planning. The current deadlines do not reflect the realities of
school development and risk leading to rushed, suboptimal solutions.

5. Lack of Parent Representation: Under current law, parents are not
included in class size exemption decisions. Including parent voices
through SLTs ensures that the needs of local communities are considered.
By delaying the timeline and allowing targeted exemptions, this bill
balances the goal of smaller class sizes with the realities of school
capacity, program demand, and parental input.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

Amends S9460 (2022) and S843 (2023).

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

Minimizing rushed compliance costs while ensuring that funds are avail-
able for thoughtful school expansion and development.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately upon passage.

2025-S6236 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   6236
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                               March 7, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen.  CHAN  --  read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on New York City Education
 
 AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to delaying the implemen-
   tation  of  class  size  reduction  plans  and  including   additional
   exemptions to class size targets

   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. Clauses (A) and (B) of subparagraph (ii) of paragraph b  of
 subdivision  2  of  section  211-d  of  the education law, clause (A) as
 amended by chapter 86 of the laws of 2023 and clause (B) as  amended  by
 chapter 556 of the laws of 2022, are amended to read as follows:
   (A)  In  a  city  school district in a city having a population of one
 million or more inhabitants such contract shall  also  include  a  plan,
 which shall be developed in collaboration with the collective bargaining
 units  representing  teachers  and the principals beginning in September
 two thousand twenty-two and signed off on  by  the  chancellor  and  the
 presidents of each bargaining unit, to reduce actual class sizes, begin-
 ning September two thousand [twenty-three] THIRTY-ONE and to be achieved
 by  September  two  thousand  [twenty-eight] THIRTY-SIX for all classes,
 with the exception of  physical  education  and  performing  groups,  as
 follows:  (1)  kindergarten-third  grade  to  have  no  more than twenty
 students per class; (2) fourth-eighth grade to have no more  than  twen-
 ty-three  students  per  class; and (3) high school to have no more than
 twenty-five students per class. Physical education and performing groups
 shall have no more than forty students per class  at  all  levels.  Each
 year  of the plan, an additional twenty percent of the classrooms in the
 city school district, excluding special education classes, shall  be  in
 compliance  with  the  class  size  targets  such  that  the city school
 district is in full compliance by two thousand [twenty-eight] THIRTY-SIX
 and all classes should maintain the target class size.  The  class  size
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD10276-01-5
 S. 6236                             2

 
 reduction  plan shall prioritize schools serving populations with higher
 poverty levels.
   (B)  The class size reduction plan shall include any exemptions to the
 class size targets. These exemptions shall be limited to: (1) space; (2)
 over-enrolled students; (3) license area  shortages;  [and]  (4)  severe
 economic  distress;  (5)  GIFTED  AND TALENTED SCHOOLS AND PROGRAMS; (6)
 SCREENED ADMISSIONS SCHOOLS AND PROGRAMS; (7) PORTFOLIO AND  SPECIALIZED
 HIGH  SCHOOLS; AND (8) ADVANCED PLACEMENT CLASSES.  THROUGH SCHOOL LEAD-
 ERSHIP TEAMS AT EACH RESPECTIVE SCHOOL, PARENTS SHALL BE INCLUDED IN ANY
 DISCUSSIONS AND DECISIONS REGARDING SUCH CLASS SIZE EXEMPTIONS. Any such
 exemptions shall be approved by the chancellor and the presidents of the
 collective bargaining units representing the teachers and the principals
 as part of the class size reduction plan. Should the chancellor and  the
 presidents  of the collective bargaining units representing the teachers
 and the principals be unable to reach agreement on the exemptions  after
 thirty  days,  the  issue shall be determined by an arbitrator. In addi-
 tion, any exemption based on available space shall include  a  reference
 to  the  capital  budget  to demonstrate that the budget is aligned with
 resolving the exemption status. Exempted classes, for the years in which
 they are exempt, and special education classes shall  not  count  toward
 the twenty percent target.
   § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.

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