Senate bill · S82 (2025-26)

Relates to the number and duties of assistant principals to be assigned to school districts in the city of New York

New York State Senate

Latest action Jun 4, 2026

Sponsor: John Liu (State Senator, District 16, Democratic)

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From NY Open Legislation, the NY Senate and Assembly, and official rosters. This record was last updated Oct 28, 2026. About our data

Summary

Relates to the number and duties of assistant principals to be assigned to school districts in the city of New York.

Summary from NY Open Legislation. How we handle summaries

Amends the Education Law.

Purpose, from the sponsor's memo

To require minimal staffing levels of assistant principals in the vari- ous schools in cities above a population of 1,000,000 SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS: Section 1 states the legislative intent. Section 2 adds three new paragraphs to subdivision (2) of the education law. Paragraph (d) states that each school shall have a minimum of one certified assistant principal. Paragraph (e) states that an assistant principal shall be responsible for the safe operation of the school on occasions when the principal is not present. Paragraph (f) states that assistant principals may be required by the chancellor or the super- intendent to provide or participate in training or other forms of staff development or to address identified areas of educational need and promote student achievement and school performance. This requirement mirrors a similar requirement for principals. Section 3 provides that this act would take effect on the first of July next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law.

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

Where it stands

Passed one of the two chambers; it still needs the other.

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

Committee

Education · New York State Assembly

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

Your position on this bill

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Cosponsors

Showing the cosponsors who are on Agora, A to Z. The official record may list more.

Read on NY Senate

Democratic4
Republican1

This bill has cosponsors from more than one party.

Shown in neutral colors by design; Agora is non-partisan.

The sponsor's argument

Why John Liu says this is needed

The need for minimal levels of administrative staffing in schools cannot be overemphasized. Students, especially those in the middle and high school years and those with special needs, require, as much as possible, personal attention to their educational progress, their social and envi- ronmental circumstances, their need for regulation and order, their disciplinary needs and other important factors which influence their physical, mental, emotional and academic development. There are over 100 schools in New York City without an assistant princi- pal and these schools face serious safety concerns as a result. When principals of these schools are taken out of the building by the Depart- ment of Education, there is no licensed administrator then present and responsible to oversee the protocols and procedures to keep students safe in an emergency. Further, many more schools deal with assistant principal understaffing, often because principal requests to hire are rejected without cause or explanation. The leadership of assistant prin- cipals is critical to ensuring a positive school culture. Assistant principals are particularly necessary to advance restorative approaches to students' missteps, which understandably take time and care. Throughout their school years, children face enoithous pressures both in and out of school. It is important to recognize the importance a school's administration plays in helping students meet, face and over- come the various demands that age, school, society, peers and life place on them. By setting minimum staffing levels for schools, including addi- tional numbers of assistant principals for large schools, middle schools, high schools and for students with special needs, this legis- lation ensures that students are given the structure, attention, guid- ance and direction that they require in their formative years.

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.

Recorded votes

Vote: Floor vote
NY SenateJun 4, 2026Result: passed
(60) (0) (0) (3)
Vote: Committee vote · New York City Education
Senate New York City EducationMay 19, 2026Result: passed
(7) (0) (0) (0)
Vote: Committee vote · New York City Education
Senate New York City EducationMay 27, 2025Result: passed
(6) (0) (0) (0)

Full history

Jun 4, 2026
In committee
COMMITTEE DISCHARGED AND COMMITTED TO RULES
NY Senate
Jun 4, 2026
Sent to the executive
DELIVERED TO ASSEMBLY
NY Senate
Jun 4, 2026
Ordered to Third Reading CAL.1696
ORDERED TO THIRD READING CAL.1696
NY Senate
Jun 4, 2026
Passed a chamber
PASSED SENATE
NY Senate
Jun 4, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO EDUCATION
NY Assembly

Show full history (6 earlier events)

May 19, 2026
Reported out of committee
REPORTED AND COMMITTED TO FINANCE
NY Senate
May 14, 2026
Amend and Recommit to New York City Education
AMEND AND RECOMMIT TO NEW YORK CITY EDUCATION
NY Senate
Mar 30, 2026
Amend (t) and Recommit to New York City Education
AMEND (T) AND RECOMMIT TO NEW YORK CITY EDUCATION
NY Senate
Jan 7, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO NEW YORK CITY EDUCATION
NY Senate
May 27, 2025
Reported out of committee
REPORTED AND COMMITTED TO FINANCE
NY Senate
Jan 8, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO NEW YORK CITY EDUCATION
NY Senate

Read the record

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