NY S07950

Establishes a Parental Choice Private School Voucher Program in Buffalo selecting 300 eligible students entering kindergarten or ninth grade to receive vouchers for private or out-of-district public schools.

Limits eligibility to students from households with income at or below 1.75 times the federal poverty level, with a higher limit of 2.2 times poverty for students already attending and their siblings.

Requires Buffalo School District to pay participating schools the lesser of the school's per-pupil operating and debt service cost or $10,000, paid in four quarterly installments directly to the school.

Participating schools must submit proof of financial viability, provide administrator fiscal management training, submit annual spending-per-student schedules, maintain health and safety compliance, and meet at least one of three accountability standards (70% grade advancement, 90% attendance, or 80% academic progress).

Department of Education must create standard applications, publicize the program to lower-income families, and may bar schools that misrepresent information, fail three accountability standards, or fail to refund overpayments; Buffalo School District must provide student records and transportation under existing law.