Directs school districts to establish parent advisory councils on special education

Latest action Mar 31, 2026

Directs school districts to establish parent advisory councils on special education to advise on matters that pertain to the education and safety of students with disabilities, and meet regularly with school officials to participate in the planning, development, and evaluation of the school district's special education programs.

Not chosen yet

Where it stands

Out of committee and scheduled for a vote by the full chamber.

Introduced
In committee
Up for a vote
Passed one chamber
Passed
Enacted

New York State Senate

Same as A8633, the matching bill in the Assembly.

Amends the Education Law.

Committee

Disabilities · New York State Senate

Also referred to Education · New York State Assembly, Education · New York State Senate.

Purpose, from the sponsor's memo

Requires school districts to create special education advisory councils

Filed with the bill. Read it on nysenate.gov (opens in a new tab)

Recorded votes

Vote: Committee vote · Disabilities
Senate DisabilitiesMar 31, 2026Result: passed
(7) (0) (0) (0)
Vote: Committee vote · Disabilities
Senate DisabilitiesMay 27, 2025Result: passed
(6) (0) (0) (0)

Cosponsors

Andrew Hevesi and Angelo Santabarbara

Democratic2

See the full list on nysenate.gov

The sponsor's argument

Why Patricia Fahy says this is needed

Special Education Parent Advisory Councils (SEPACs) are organized groups of parents and guardians of children who receive special education services. These groups provide a space for parents to discuss gaps in the services provided by the school district, what the district could do to improve the quality of education being provided, and to assist each other with navigating the complex web of special education services. Only a few school districts in New York have SEPACs; for instance, the New York City, Buffalo, Rochester, Albany, and Addison City School Districts. Considering 21% of students in public schools in NYS are enrolled in special education services, the highest of any state, it is essential that these organizations be available to parents and guardians of children receiving special education services across all school districts.

This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.

Full history

Mar 31, 2026
Reported out of committee
REPORTED AND COMMITTED TO EDUCATION
NY Senate
Jan 7, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO DISABILITIES
NY Senate
Jan 7, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO EDUCATION
NY Assembly
Jun 13, 2025
In committee
COMMITTED TO RULES
NY Senate
May 29, 2025
Advanced to Third Reading
ADVANCED TO THIRD READING
NY Senate

Show full history (4 earlier events)

May 28, 2025
2ND Report CAL.
2ND REPORT CAL.
NY Senate
May 27, 2025
1ST Report CAL.1293
1ST REPORT CAL.1293
NY Senate
May 22, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO EDUCATION
NY Assembly
May 9, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO DISABILITIES
NY Senate

About this record

Summary: The summary comes from NY Open Legislation, the New York State Senate's public record. For more, see How we handle summaries.
Cosponsors: The list shows the cosponsors who are on Agora, A to Z. The official record may list more.
Party colors: Parties are shown in the same neutral colors.
Source: From NY Open Legislation, the NY Senate and Assembly, and official rosters. This record was last updated Nov 3, 2026. About our data

Read the record

Read on NY Senate (opens in a new tab) The official record on nysenate.gov.

Your position