Establishing a legally binding charter of rights for students, covering dignity, privacy, due process, and access to resources.
The Student Bill of Rights with Enforceable Protections
Students in NYC public schools have few codified, enforceable rights. Mamdanis administration would pass, through the City Council, a comprehensive Student Bill of Rights. This charter would guarantee students: the right to a free, high-quality education in a safe and supportive environment; the right to due process in disciplinary proceedings, including legal representation; the right to privacy, including protection from unauthorized surveillance and data collection; the right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly; the right to comprehensive health and sexuality education; and the right to translation services for themselves and their families.
The Bill of Rights would be posted in every school and incorporated into the DOEs regulations. It would create an independent Student Rights Advocate office with the power to investigate complaints and compel schools to comply. This transforms students from subjects of the system into rights-bearing individuals. Students are citizens of our city, and they deserve the same fundamental protections as any other resident, Mamdani argues. This Bill of Rights empowers them, holds the system accountable, and establishes a floor of dignity and justice below which no school can fall.
