§ 1709-a. Powers of boards of education to ban fraternities, sororities and other secret societies. 1. In its discretion, the board of education of each school district, may adopt rules and regulations to abolish and/or prohibit any fraternity, sorority or other secret society in any secondary school under its jurisdiction.

Terms Used In N.Y. Education Law 1709-A

  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.

1 (a) Prior to the adoption and promulgation of a rule or regulation in accordance with the provisions of subdivision one of this section by any board of education of a school district, the board of education of the school district must find that the fraternity, sorority or secret society group has by virtue of its activities caused or created a disruption of or interference with the academic processes of any secondary school within its jurisdiction or caused or created any interference with or disruption of the academic progress of any individual student or students in any secondary school within its jurisdiction.

2. For the purposes of this chapter a fraternity, sorority or secret society shall mean any organization composed wholly or in part of pupils enrolled in public secondary schools which exists or seeks to perpetuate itself by taking in additional members from the pupils enrolled in such schools on the decision of the membership rather than upon the free choice of any pupil in such school but shall not be construed to include organizations institutionally sponsored by agencies of public welfare, the Boy Scouts of America, the Girl Scouts of America, the Campfire Girls, Young Men's Christian Association, Young Women's Christian Association, Young Men's Hebrew Association, Young Women's Hebrew Association, Catholic Youth Organization, Kiwanis International, Hi-Y or other similar organizations without limitation to the foregoing.

3. Upon and after the adoption and promulgation of a rule or regulation in accordance with the provisions of subdivision one of this section by the board of education of any such school district, such board of education may in any secondary school under it's jurisdiction discipline any pupil who shall promise to join, or shall become a member of, or shall remain a member of, or shall solicit other persons to join any such fraternity, sorority or secret society.

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