Proposed Int. No. 118-A
By Council Member Ayala, the Public Advocate (Mr. Williams) and Council Members Restler, Won, Schulman, Hanif, Hudson, Stevens, Joseph, Cabán, Louis, Ossé, Sanchez, Bottcher and Narcisse
A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to posting information and reporting on dress code policies in New York city public schools, and to repeal section two of such local law upon the expiration thereof
Be it enacted by the Council as follows:
Section 1. Title 21-A of the administrative code of the city of New York is amended by adding a new chapter 35 to read as follows:
CHAPTER 35
POSTING OF INFORMATION REGARDING SCHOOL DRESS CODE POLICIES
§ 21-1006 Posting of information regarding school dress code policies. a. For purposes of this section, the following terms have the following meanings:
Dress code. The term “dress code” means any policy established by a school, consistent with applicable department policies and guidelines, pertaining to attire that students wear to school.
School. The term “school” means a school of the city school district of the city of New York.
b. No later than January 31, 2025, and by each August 1 thereafter, for schools with a dress code, the department shall post conspicuously on its website the following information:
1. The school’s dress code;
2. Any email addresses designated by the department through which students, parents, or staff may report issues related to each such code; and
3. Information on how to request an exemption from a dress code, as applicable.
§ 2. Reporting on school dress code policies. a. For the purposes of this section, the following terms have the following meanings:
Chancellor. The term “chancellor” means the chancellor of the city school district of the city of New York.
Dress code. The term “dress code” means any policy established by a school, consistent with applicable department of education policies and guidelines, pertaining to attire that students wear to school.
School. The term “school” means a school of the city school district of the city of New York.
b. No later than January 31, 2025, and by each August 31 thereafter, the chancellor shall submit to the speaker of the council and post conspicuously on the department of education’s website a report that shall include, but need not be limited to, the following information:
1. For each school, the school name, school district borough number, and whether such school has implemented a dress code;
2. The number of disciplinary infractions issued the previous academic year based on school dress codes, and any related consequences or penalties, disaggregated by month and week, and further disaggregated by student gender and race, as reported by the student; and
3. The number of schools that have implemented a dress code and the number of schools that have not implemented a dress code.
c. The information required to be reported pursuant to subdivision b shall be aggregated by community school district, borough, and citywide.
d. No information that is otherwise required to be reported pursuant to this section shall be reported in a manner that would violate any applicable provision of federal, state, or local law relating to the privacy of student information or that would interfere with law enforcement investigations or otherwise conflict with the interests of law enforcement. If a category contains between 1 and 5 students, or contains a number that would allow the number of individuals in another category that is 5 or fewer to be deduced, the number shall be replaced with a symbol.
§ 3. This local law takes effect immediately and section two of this local law expires and is deemed repealed 5 years after the effective date of this local law.
Session 13
NJF
LS #7,718
7/10/24 7:45 PM
Session 12
MMB
LS #7,718
3/7/22; 11:54 a.m.