NY S08487

Removes references to "September" and "appropriate public schools" from attendance requirements, replacing them with "school year" to provide flexibility in when students begin full-time instruction.

Modifies the 180-day school session requirement by allowing commissioners to disregard missed days due to state or local emergencies declared under executive law, in addition to the existing five-day allowance for adverse weather or facility issues.

Establishes a new section 8-a allowing school districts to schedule teacher conference days in the last two weeks of August (subject to collective bargaining requirements) with such days counting toward the required 180 days of instruction.

Permits districts to use portions of the four allowable teacher conference days for staff development activities on any day sessions are allowed, not just during regularly scheduled daily sessions.

Repeals subdivisions 7-a and 7-b of section 3604 of the education law, effective July 1, 2018.