Int. No. 895
By Council Members Brooks-Powers, Ariola, Louis, Farías, Banks, Thomas-Henry, Avilés, Won, Gutiérrez, Epstein, Riley, Narcisse, Hudson and Morano
A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to the distribution of information about student transfer rights
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 to add a new chapter 44 to read as follows:
CHAPTER 44
DISTRIBUTION OF STUDENT TRANSFER RIGHTS INFORMATION
§ 21-1016 Distribution of student transfer rights information. a. Definitions. For purposes of this section, the following terms have the following meanings:
Charter school. The term “charter school” means any charter school located in the city of New York, regardless of grade level or charter authorizer.
Charter student. The term “charter student” means a student enrolled at a charter school.
Designated citywide languages. The term “designated citywide languages” has the same meaning as set forth in section 23-1101.
School. The term “school” means any public school located in the city of New York that contains any combination of grades from kindergarten through grade twelve, including charter schools.
Student in temporary housing. The term “student in temporary housing” means a student who has been identified by the department as a “homeless child” as such term is defined in section 100.2 of title 8 of the New York codes, rules and regulations, or a successor provision.
Student with a disability. The term “student with a disability” has the same meaning as set forth in section 21-955.
b. Required information. The department shall maintain on its website a page dedicated to informing students and their families about their substantive and process rights as they relate to transferring schools. Such webpage shall contain a statement that each student may remain enrolled at their school unless the department or relevant charter school follows a lawful process to remove the student, and shall provide information regarding such lawful process. Such information shall include information about transfer-related substantive and process rights available to students in general and to charter students specifically including, as applicable:
1. An explanation of students’ ability to receive information including relevant disciplinary policies, student files and any notice of allegations;
2. An explanation of students’ right to be free from undue pressure, intimidation, or coercion by their school into transferring or otherwise withdrawing from the school, including examples of such improper conduct;
3. An explanation of any specific substantive and process rights available to students with disabilities;
4. An explanation of any language access accommodations available to students;
5. An explanation of students’ right to be free from enrollment-related discrimination by their school based on homelessness;
6. An explanation of students’ right to be free from retaliation for exercising their rights; and
7. An explanation of how students may file complaints about their school or charter school to relevant oversight authorities such as the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights and, as applicable to charter students, to their charter school’s authorizer.
c. Other required information. Such webpage shall also provide:
1. A checklist for students and their families that describes best practices for contesting a school transfer or enrollment decision; and
2. A list of community-based organizations that provide legal services to students.
d. Additional availability. The department shall make the information described in subdivisions b and c of this section available in English and in at least each of the designated citywide languages. The department shall also make such information available in hard copy at family welcome centers, and in either digital or hard copy upon request to council members, borough presidents, community boards, community education councils, parent associations, parent teacher associations, community-based organizations, schools, and charter schools.
§ 2. This local law shall take effect in 120 days.
AC
LS # 22076
04/28/2026 5 pm