File #: Res 1293-2012    Version: * Name: Establish the Asian Lunar New Year as an official holiday for NYC students. (S.27/A.1883)
Type: Resolution Status: Filed
Committee: Committee on Education
On agenda: 4/18/2012
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: Resolution calling upon the New York State Legislature to pass and the Governor to sign S.27/A.1883, legislation which would establish the Asian Lunar New Year as an official holiday for New York City students.
Sponsors: Margaret S. Chin, Daniel Dromm , Julissa Ferreras-Copeland, Lewis A. Fidler, Vincent J. Gentile, Sara M. Gonzalez, Letitia James, Peter A. Koo, Brad S. Lander, Annabel Palma, Domenic M. Recchia, Jr., Deborah L. Rose, Jumaane D. Williams, Robert Jackson, Daniel J. Halloran III
Council Member Sponsors: 15
Res. No. 1293
 
 
Resolution calling upon the New York State Legislature to pass and the Governor to sign S.27/A.1883, legislation which would establish the Asian Lunar New Year as an official holiday for New York City students.  
 
 
By Council Members Chin, Dromm, Ferreras, Fidler, Gentile, Gonzalez, James, Koo, Lander, Palma, Recchia, Rose, Williams, Jackson and Halloran
      Whereas, The Asian Lunar New Year is considered to be a significant holiday by many in the Asian community; and
      Whereas, The Lunar New Year is celebrated by Chinese, Koreans, Vietnamese and other Asian ethnic groups; and
Whereas, Legislation was introduced in the New York State Senate and Assembly that would amend the State Education Law in relation to establishing the Asian Lunar New Year school holiday; and
Whereas, S.27/A.1883, sponsored by Senator Daniel Squadron and Assembly Member Grace Meng, calls for the establishment of  the Asian Lunar New Year day as a school holiday for all school districts of cities with one million inhabitants or more, with an Asian population of seven and one-half percent or more; and
Whereas, According to statistics from the New York City Department of Education (DOE), approximately 14% of students in the New York City school system are considered to be Asian American; and
Whereas, While the DOE excuses absences taken for missed days due to religious observances, the child is still marked absent and will miss a day of classes; and
Whereas, These absences will impact upon the child's and the school's attendance record; and
Whereas, Currently, New York City public schools are closed on several religious holidays, including Christmas, Good Friday, Rosh Hashanah and Passover; and
Whereas, New York's flourishing population of Asian American residents and students, along with the cultural importance of the Asian Lunar New Year, point to the necessity for the observance to be a school holiday; now, therefore, be it
      Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the New York State Legislature to pass and the Governor to sign S.27/A.1883, legislation which would establish the Asian Lunar New Year as an official holiday for New York City students.  
 
 
 
LS#3359
JP
4/10/12