STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
5243
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 12, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. K. BROWN -- read once and referred to the Commit-
tee on Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to establishing the high
school peer mentoring pilot program; and providing for the repeal of
such provisions upon expiration thereof
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The education law is amended by adding a new section 115 to
2 read as follows:
3 § 115. The high school peer mentoring pilot program. The department is
4 authorized and directed to establish a high school peer mentoring pilot
5 program. Such pilot program shall be implemented in all public high
6 schools within the state and shall include, but not be limited to:
7 1. prior to the two thousand twenty-six--two thousand twenty-seven
8 school year:
9 (a) a review of a high school's existing mentoring program model;
10 (b) the collection of resources and the solicitation of recommenda-
11 tions to strengthen a peer mentoring model and ensure the best outcomes
12 for both the mentors and mentees utilizing evidence-based research;
13 (c) the collection of resources and the solicitation of recommenda-
14 tions around elements of effective practice in mentoring, including, but
15 not limited to, recruitment, screening, training, matching and initiat-
16 ing, monitoring and support, and closure;
17 (d) a review of best and emerging practices to recruit and onboard
18 mentors, mentees and stakeholders throughout the community;
19 (e) the development of an articulated recruitment and support outreach
20 plan;
21 (f) the implementation of a mentor screening tool;
22 (g) the creation of communication tools and marketing collateral to
23 support recruitment and communication efforts, including, but not limit-
24 ed to:
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03070-02-5
A. 5243 2
1 (i) position description;
2 (ii) promotional materials;
3 (iii) letter to families; and
4 (iv) information for faculty;
5 (h) the design and facilitation of onboarding training for mentors,
6 mentees, and all coordinators and liaisons; and
7 (i) a determination and implementation of the best pre- and post-ap-
8 proach in evaluating the efficacy and impact of the program on mentors
9 and mentees;
10 2. during the two thousand twenty-six--two thousand twenty-seven
11 school year:
12 (a) the implementation of a peer mentoring program;
13 (b) a two-hour virtual training for all school staff to infuse
14 mentor-like characteristics and employ tactics to impact students posi-
15 tively;
16 (c) the creation of a team of trainers that can help quickly onboard
17 future mentors as needed;
18 (d) a recorded training for mentors and volunteers to access at their
19 convenience;
20 (e) the use of the search institutes developmental relationships
21 framework to reinforce existing strengths in the school's relationship-
22 centered culture, and encourage reflection in potential growth areas;
23 (f) the providing of continuous support and training including, but
24 not limited to:
25 (i) enrichment training in specific content areas including, but not
26 limited to:
27 (A) improving listening skills;
28 (B) identifying youth sparks;
29 (C) discovering our boundaries;
30 (D) personal assumptions and biases;
31 (E) helping youth work through challenges; and
32 (F) addressing challenging behaviors;
33 (ii) peer sharing roundtables; and
34 (iii) additional resources for crucial practices to enhance and
35 strengthen mentoring relationships; and
36 (g) a virtual relationship mapping exercise which creates an inten-
37 tional plan to ensure that all students graduate with a meaningful
38 adult-youth relationship; and
39 3. following the two thousand twenty-six--two thousand twenty-seven
40 school year:
41 (a) an assessment of the pilot program which includes recommendations
42 for improvement;
43 (b) submission of such assessment to the commissioner;
44 (c) the advocation by the department for the continuation of the pilot
45 program beyond the two thousand twenty-six--two thousand twenty-seven
46 school year; and
47 (d) the creation of a report on the high school peer mentoring pilot
48 program which shall be submitted to the governor, the temporary presi-
49 dent of the senate, the speaker of the assembly, the minority leader of
50 the senate, and the minority leader of the assembly no later than August
51 thirty-first, two thousand twenty-seven.
52 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire and be
53 deemed repealed January 1, 2028.
