New York Assembly Bill A06112

New York 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/26/25
• Refer: 2/26/25
• Refer: 1/7/26

Caption

Provides the Board of Regents with final approval authority over all proposed and renewed charter schools.

Summary

This bill amends the Education Law to give the New York State Board of Regents final approval authority over proposed and renewed charter schools. Under current law, charter entities can resubmit a charter after Regents review, and in some cases a charter may be deemed approved if the Regents do not act within a set period. The bill removes that automatic-approval pathway and instead requires that any resubmitted charter satisfy the Regents’ recommendations to their satisfaction before approval can be granted. In practical terms, the measure strengthens the Regents’ role in the charter school approval process and makes their review determinative rather than advisory or time-limited. It applies to both new charter applications and renewals, and it would take effect 30 days after becoming law.

Impact

The bill would amend section 2852 of the Education Law to eliminate the provision that allowed certain resubmitted charter applications to be deemed approved after 30 days without Regents action. It would also bar approval of a resubmitted charter unless the Board of Regents is satisfied that its recommendations have been addressed, and it would prohibit approval if the Regents recommend abandonment. The change would shift final decision-making authority over charter school approvals and renewals more firmly to the Regents, affecting charter school applicants, charter entities, and the state’s charter authorization process.

Sentiment

No committee transcripts or recorded votes were provided, so there is no direct evidence of legislative debate or formal support/opposition in the available materials. Based on the bill text and caption, the measure appears to reflect a policy preference for tighter state oversight of charter schools and greater deference to the Board of Regents in school authorization decisions.

Contention

The main point of contention is likely the balance of power between charter school authorizers and the Board of Regents. Supporters would likely favor stronger oversight, consistency, and quality control in charter approvals, while opponents may argue that removing automatic approval and requiring Regents’ final satisfaction could slow the charter process, reduce flexibility for applicants, and make it harder for new or renewed charter schools to proceed. The bill specifically targets the existing deemed-approved mechanism, which is likely to be the central issue for charter advocates and authorizing entities.