Senate Education Committee advances statewide numeracy work, moves multiple bills to the floor

Albany — The New York State Senate Education Committee on Wednesday advanced several education-related bills and heard a briefing from the State Education Department on a numeracy initiative aimed at improving student mathematics outcomes across the state.

Deputy Commissioner Angelique Johnson Dingell told the committee the department has produced seven short "numeracy briefs," rolled out statewide professional development and expanded the MAP (Mathematics Access Program) to include middle grades, part of a broader effort to strengthen elementary and middle-school mathematics instruction. "This really all started well over a year ago," Johnson Dingell said, describing the briefs and statewide training sessions for educators.

The committee, chaired by state Senator Shelley Mayer, moved multiple bills to the floor or to finance during the meeting. Most measures were advanced by voice vote. Several items drew brief debate, including a Martinez-sponsored bill that would require project labor agreements on certain Long Island school construction projects and a proposal to allow small districts to create reserve funds for unexpected special-education costs.

Why it matters: New York's recent NAEP and state assessment results show relatively low proficiency rates in mathematics, especially in large urban districts. Committee members said the department's briefs and expanded supports are intended to provide research-based guidance to districts that lack resources to develop such materials on their own.

Numeracy initiative

Johnson Dingell described a multi-part effort that includes short, research-based briefs for kindergarten through high school, implementation guides for teachers and principals, statewide training events and materials for parents. The department held a statewide hybrid launch event with more than 1,700 educators and earlier offered literacy briefs that reached roughly 2,500 participants; the numeracy rollouts used the same statewide platform.

The department has engaged nationally known researchers to advise the work and said the briefs address instructional myths, foundational skills and leadership supports for principals. The MAP program, originally focused on grades K–5, was expanded to grades 6–8 to respond to pandemic-era declines the department identified in middle grades. A statewide student math tournament was scheduled for May 30 at the Cultural Education Center in Albany; the department said the event would not be live-streamed but that photos and videos would be shared after the event.

Mayer and other senators pressed the department to address performance gaps in the "Big 5" city districts (New York City, Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse and Yonkers). Johnson Dingell said the briefs were intentionally rolled out statewide to level-set practices for districts that cannot pay for outside experts and that the materials include equity-focused approaches to narrow disparities by income and race.

Votes at a glance (committee actions)

- S1636 (Barillo) — Authorize Salamanca City School District to establish a federal impact-aid reserve fund if federal impact aid is reduced. Motion moved and seconded; advanced to the floor by voice vote.

- S1672 (Martinez) — Amend education law to require a project labor agreement for certain construction projects in Nassau and Suffolk counties. Sponsors and outside labor supporters spoke in favor; the New York State School Boards Association and school business officials were listed as opponents in committee discussion. Motion moved and seconded; referred to finance.

- S5539A (Baskin) — Require school safety plans to include cardiac emergency response provisions. Sponsors and athletic/trainer groups supported the measure; motion moved and seconded; advanced to the floor by voice vote.

- S6734 (Fahey) — Specify that elections to fill an increased number of school-board seats occur at the annual meeting following the increase. Motion moved and seconded; advanced to the floor (one or more senators recorded as "nay" in discussion, per the transcript).

- S7788 (Megga) — Permit school districts to establish reserve funds for high-cost special-education placements and related expenses. Several senators described scenarios in which a single out-of-district placement can upend a small district's budget; one senator raised concerns about districts that receive students relocated by other municipalities. Motion moved and seconded; advanced to the floor by voice vote.

- S7988 (Mayer) — Retain personnel records relating to certain alleged misconduct for the length of the civil statute of limitations in Child Victims Act cases; confidentiality protections to remain in place. The measure was described as a response to current retention rules that can frustrate litigation and district defense. Motion moved and seconded; advanced to the floor.

- S8003 (Mayer) — Clarify lease terms for zero-emission (electric) school buses so districts may enter longer leases (up to 12 years) when leasing rather than purchasing. Committee discussion described the change as optional and aimed at giving districts additional financial flexibility; motion moved and seconded; advanced to the floor.

- S8076A (Scoofus) — Direct the commissioner of education to study recess in kindergarten through sixth grade, with a short-term report expected by December 2025. Committee members described the measure as a study only (not a mandate); motion moved and seconded; advanced to the floor.

Context and notable debate

The Martinez bill on project labor agreements prompted supporters—represented by union leaders outside the hearing room—to argue the requirement would protect workers, prevent wage theft and ensure prevailing wages on Long Island school projects. Mayer noted opposition from school boards and school business officials in committee discussion.

On the special-education reserve proposal, several senators described the strain that rare but costly out-of-district placements can place on small districts' budgets; one senator objected to characterizing those situations as "created emergencies" when families are relocated by other local governments. Mayer clarified the bill is intended to protect districts caring for "any student duly enrolled in the district."

Ending

Committee Chair Mayer thanked Johnson Dingell and committee members for a productive session. Johnson Dingell said the department's materials and the QR-coded resources distributed to members would be posted on the State Education Department website and made available electronically to the committee.

(See "Provenance" below for transcript excerpts tied to the committee presentation and each bill.)