N.Y. Education Law § 1709-a: Powers of boards of education to ban fraternities, sororities and other secret societies

§ 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.

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.