NYC Council Introduction 853

intro.nyc/0853-2026 2026-2029 Legislative Session Mayor's Desk for Signature
Requiring a study on how social and economic factors affect access to special education programs and services.
Sponsored by Susan Zhuang
Introduced: April 16, 2026

This bill requires the Department of Education (DOE) to supplement existing special education reporting with analysis on how geographic location, home language, and household income affect students’ access to special education programs and services. DOE will also be required to report a description of programs or initiatives that serve to mitigate the impact, if any, of social and economic factors on access to special education services, and to report recommendations on how to address any identified barriers to access.

Approved by Committee October 22, 2026

Committee on Education Votes 11:0:0
Eric Dinowitz (Affirmative)
Gale A. Brewer (Absent)
Carmen N. De La Rosa (Affirmative)
Amanda C. Farías (Affirmative)
Jennifer Gutiérrez (Affirmative)
Rita C. Joseph (Absent)
Shekar Krishnan (Affirmative)
Linda Lee (Affirmative)
Farah N. Louis (Affirmative)
Mercedes Narcisse (Affirmative)
Lynn C. Schulman (Affirmative)
Phil Wong (Affirmative)
Susan Zhuang (Affirmative)

Approved by Council October 22, 2026

Votes 49:0:0
Julie Menin (Affirmative)
Shaun Abreu (Affirmative)
Shirley Aldebol (Affirmative)
Joann Ariola (Affirmative)
Alexa Avilés (Absent)
Chris Banks (Affirmative)
Gale A. Brewer (Affirmative)
Selvena N. Brooks-Powers (Affirmative)
Tiffany L. Cabán (Affirmative)
David M. Carr (Affirmative)
Carmen N. De La Rosa (Affirmative)
Eric Dinowitz (Affirmative)
Elsie Encarnación (Affirmative)
Harvey D. Epstein (Affirmative)
Amanda C. Farías (Affirmative)
Simcha Felder (Affirmative)
Oswald J. Feliz (Affirmative)
James F. Gennaro (Affirmative)
Jennifer Gutiérrez (Affirmative)
Shahana K. Hanif (Affirmative)
Ty Hankerson (Affirmative)
Kamillah Hanks (Affirmative)
Crystal Hudson (Affirmative)
Rita C. Joseph (Affirmative)
Shekar Krishnan (Affirmative)
Linda Lee (Affirmative)
Farah N. Louis (Affirmative)
Virginia Maloney (Affirmative)
Christopher Marte (Affirmative)
Darlene Mealy (Absent)
Frank Morano (Affirmative)
Mercedes Narcisse (Affirmative)
Sandy Nurse (Affirmative)
Chi A. Ossé (Affirmative)
Vickie Paladino (Affirmative)
Lincoln Restler (Affirmative)
Kevin C. Riley (Affirmative)
Yusef Salaam (Affirmative)
Pierina Ana Sanchez (Affirmative)
Justin E. Sanchez (Affirmative)
Kayla Santosuosso (Affirmative)
Lynn C. Schulman (Affirmative)
Althea V. Stevens (Affirmative)
Shanel Thomas-Henry (Affirmative)
Sandra Ung (Affirmative)
Inna Vernikov (Affirmative)
Nantasha M. Williams (Affirmative)
Carl Wilson (Affirmative)
Julie Won (Affirmative)
Phil Wong (Affirmative)
Susan Zhuang (Affirmative)