By Forum Staff
State Sen. Joe Addabbo, Jr. (D-Woodhaven) on Monday announced the introduction of Bill S9912, which is aimed at providing preference for school admissions to students who have siblings already enrolled in the same public elementary or middle school. This bill is particularly important for families living in cities with populations of one million people or more.
The goal of the bill is to make school admissions fairer and to help families who struggle with the challenges of having children in different schools.
Photo Courtesy of Sen. Addabbo
“The unnecessary stress on the parent can be avoided with rational thought and common sense,” Sen. Addabbo said.
Addabbo said he introduced the bill and intends to work on advancing it during the 2025 legislative session, in response to constituents who contacted him complaining that their child was being placed on a City Department of Education waitlist for a specific school, while currently having a sibling attending that same school.
“At times, the public school admissions process places parents in a practically impossible situation – get their children to and pick them up from two different schools at the same time,” added Addabbo, a member of the Senate Education Committee. “The unnecessary stress on the parent can be avoided with rational thought and common sense. By giving preference to siblings in school applications, we are supporting our families and building a stronger community in our schools.”
