NY S05946

Authorizes the Syracuse city school district board of education to establish a regional STEAM high school for grades 9-12 serving students from Onondaga, Cortland, and Madison counties, subject to commissioner of education approval.

Students remain enrolled in their home school districts but receive diplomas from Syracuse city school district upon completion; home districts counted them for state aid purposes and must provide transportation without mileage limitations.

Home school districts pay per-pupil tuition directly to the STEAM school based on an annually adopted methodology approved by the commissioner of education.

School districts may participate through a memorandum of understanding with the Syracuse board of education for up to five years; admission determined by random selection when applicants exceed available spaces, with preference for returning students.

Authorizes the Syracuse city school district to transfer facility ownership to Onondaga County, which may lease it back to the school and contract debt for renovations; establishes building aid for the project based on 1,000 students with multi-year cost allowances available twice in the first five years and again no sooner than ten years later.