Int. No. 142-A

By Council Members Brooks-Powers, Joseph, Cabán, Louis, Abreu, Hanif, Farías, Brewer, Ung, Hudson, Gennaro, Restler, Williams, Ossé, Ayala, Krishnan, Hanks, Banks, Narcisse, Schulman, Feliz, Riley and the Public Advocate (Mr. Williams)

A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring the department of education to report on student access to home internet and electronic devices

Be it enacted by the Council as follows:

Section 1. Title 21-A of the administrative code of the city of New York is amended by redesignating chapter 40, as added by a local law amending the administrative code of the city of New York, relating to the distribution of materials on water safety in schools, as proposed in introduction number 1059-A, as chapter 41; redesignating section 21-1012 of the administrative code of the city of New York, as added by such local law as section 21-1013; and adding a new chapter 42 to read as follows:

CHAPTER 42

STUDENT ACCESS TO HOME INTERNET AND ELECTRONIC DEVICES

§ 21-1014 Reporting on student access to home internet and electronic devices. a. Definitions. For purposes of this section, the following terms have the following meanings:

Electronic device. The term “electronic device” means a desktop computer, laptop, tablet, or smartphone that can be connected to the internet. 

Non-functional. The term “non-functional” means any electronic device that is unable to perform its intended function, whether due to physical damage, hardware failure, software malfunction, configuration error, lack of necessary updates, or any other condition.

Virtual learning. The term “virtual learning” means an education course that students can complete in a school building or at home using electronic devices to connect students to teachers.

b. No later than January 1, 2027, and every 2 years thereafter, the department shall submit to the speaker of the council and post conspicuously on the department’s website a report regarding student access to home internet and electronic devices. Information required to be included in such report may be procured through any means determined by the department, including, but not limited to, surveys sent to the parents or guardians of students. The report shall include, but not be limited to, the following information for each school district:

1. The total enrollment and number of responses;

2. The number and percentage of students who have broadband internet access at home;

3. The number and percentage of students who have access to at least 1 electronic device at home;

4. The number and percentage of students who have an electronic device and broadband internet access at home;

5. The number and percentage of students who have utilized virtual learning options offered by the department; 

6. The number and percentage of students issued a department-owned electronic device; and

7. The number and percentage of electronic devices in schools that have been reported to be non-functional.

c. The report required pursuant to subdivision b of this section shall additionally include a narrative description of any feedback received from parents and guardians of students regarding challenges with technology access and recommendations on reducing the digital divide among students, including, but not limited to, identifying means of improving student access to home internet and electronic devices, and other such challenges.

d. No information that is otherwise required to be reported pursuant to this section shall be reported in a manner that would violate any applicable provision of federal, state, or local law relating to the privacy of student information or that would interfere with law enforcement investigations or otherwise conflict with the interests of law enforcement.

§ 2. This local law takes effect immediately.

Session 13

AC

LS #10183

12/10/2025 8:50 pm

Session 12

APM

LS #10183

2/7/2023