New York A 5343: Provides grants for schoolyards and playgrounds; appropriation

Bill Text

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A05343 Summary:

BILL NOA05343 

&nbsp

SAME ASSAME AS S07386

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SPONSORRaga

&nbsp

COSPNSR

&nbsp

MLTSPNSRSimon

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Add §3602-g, Ed L

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Provides grants for schoolyards and playgrounds to become living schoolyards which provide outdoor learning spaces for students.

Go to top A05343 Actions:

BILL NOA05343 

&nbsp

02/13/2025referred to education

01/07/2026referred to education

Go to topA05343 Committee&nbspVotes:

Go to topA05343 Floor&nbspVotes:

There are no Assembly votes for this bill in this legislative session.

Go to topA05343 Text:

 STATE OF NEW YORK
 ________________________________________________________________________

 5343

 2025-2026 Regular Sessions

 IN ASSEMBLY

 February 13, 2025
 ___________

 Introduced by M. of A. RAGA -- read once and referred to the Committee
 on Education

 AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to providing grants for
 schoolyards and playgrounds; and making an appropriation therefor

 The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-
 bly, do enact as follows:

 1 Section 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "New York
 2 Living Schoolyards Act".
 3 § 2. The education law is amended by adding a new section 3602-g to
 4 read as follows:
 5 § 3602-g. Living schoolyard grant program. 1. Definitions. As used in
 6 this section:
 7 (a) "Eligible entity" shall mean a school district, local education
 8 agency, board of cooperative educational services serving secondary
 9 students, and nonprofit organization that has expertise in outdoor
 10 learning spaces or outdoor education working in partnership with a
 11 school district, local education agency, or board of cooperative educa-
 12 tional services serving secondary students.
 13 (b) "Living schoolyard" shall mean a park-like outdoor environment at
 14 an elementary school or secondary school that strengthens local ecologi-
 15 cal systems, provides hands-on learning resources, and fosters a wide
 16 range of play and social opportunities while enhancing the health and
 17 well-being of children and adults; and may include trees, gardens,
 18 outdoor meeting areas, and other elements designed by, and for, the
 19 students and the surrounding community.
 20 (c) "Outdoor learning space" shall mean an outdoor physical space on
 21 school grounds that is:
 22 (i) dedicated to meet or conduct curriculum-tied activities;
 23 (ii) a dedicated space for outdoor classrooms that has seating and
 24 tables installed for students and teachers to meet regularly; or

 EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
 [ ] is old law to be omitted.
 LBD05438-01-5

 A. 5343 2

 1 (iii) a place that is used when the need arises to take learning
 2 outdoors.
 3 (d) "Program" shall mean the living schoolyard grant program estab-
 4 lished under this section.
 5 2. Living schoolyard grant program. The commissioner shall establish a
 6 living schoolyard grant program which shall, out of funds appropriated
 7 for such program, provide grants on a competitive basis to eligible
 8 entities for the purposes of creating healthier and greener outdoor
 9 learning spaces at elementary and secondary schools. Such grants shall
 10 be in amounts between twenty-five thousand dollars and one hundred thou-
 11 sand dollars.
 12 3. Applications. The commissioner shall accept applications from
 13 eligible entities which shall include:
 14 (a) An identification of each elementary school and secondary school
 15 that will receive funding provided under this section.
 16 (b) The timeframe needed to prepare outdoor learning spaces and the
 17 timeframe to begin using outdoor learning spaces.
 18 (c) The percentage of students in the identified elementary schools
 19 and secondary schools who are eligible for a free or reduced price lunch
 20 under the National School Lunch Act, as amended.
 21 (d) The projected number of schools that would participate in the
 22 outdoor learning spaces.
 23 (e) The projected number of students and staff that would participate
 24 in the outdoor learning spaces on a daily basis.
 25 (f) A description of how the eligible entity will assist students and
 26 staff that may need inclement weather clothing to participate in the
 27 outdoor learning spaces.
 28 (g) A description of how the outdoor learni