New York Senate Bill S05987

New York 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/4/25
• Refer: 3/4/25
• Refer: 1/7/26

Caption

Prohibits the establishment of new charter schools, or the revision of any charter in, or within a five mile radius of, the Hempstead union free school district, the Uniondale union free school district, or the Roosevelt union free school district.

Summary

S05987 would impose a moratorium on new charter schools, and on certain charter revisions, in and around three Nassau County school districts: Hempstead Union Free School District, Uniondale Union Free School District, and Roosevelt Union Free School District. The bill bars approval of any new charter school application if the proposed school would operate in those districts or within a five-mile radius of them. It also prohibits reissuing a surrendered, revoked, terminated, or nonrenewed charter for a school that previously operated in that area. The bill further restricts charter school growth in the covered area by preventing approvals for revisions that would increase enrollment, expand grade levels or ages served, or add facilities or locations. The stated purpose is to address what the sponsor describes as oversaturation of charter schools and the fiscal strain placed on nearby public school districts, which lose tuition funding when students attend charter schools. The act would take effect immediately.

Impact

The bill would amend the practical operation of New York Education Law sections governing charter school applications and charter revisions by creating a geographic prohibition around the Hempstead, Uniondale, and Roosevelt school districts. Charter entities would be barred from approving new schools or expansion requests in the covered area, and previously operating charters in that area could not be reissued after surrender, revocation, termination, or nonrenewal. The affected parties would be charter school applicants, existing charter operators seeking to expand, and the three named public school districts and surrounding districts within the five-mile radius, which would be insulated from further charter growth under this proposal.

Sentiment

The bill’s stated and apparent sentiment is strongly supportive of the affected public school districts and skeptical of additional charter school expansion in the region. The sponsor frames the measure as a fiscal relief and capacity-protection response to significant charter enrollment and funding losses in Hempstead, Roosevelt, and Uniondale. No committee transcript or vote record is provided, so there is no recorded opposition or bipartisan support to assess beyond the bill text itself.

Contention

The central point of contention is the balance between charter school choice and public school district funding. Supporters of the bill would likely emphasize that charter schools draw tuition payments from district budgets and that the concentration of charters in these communities has created unsustainable fiscal pressure. Opponents would likely argue that a geographic moratorium limits parental choice, restricts educational innovation, and treats charter schools differently based on location. The bill also raises questions about whether a five-mile exclusion zone is an appropriate remedy and whether existing or future charter operators should be prevented from expanding even when demand exists.