New York Laws
Article 52 - City School Districts of Cities With One Hundred Twenty-Five Thousand Inhabitants or More
2554-A - Powers of Boards of Education to Ban Fraternities, Sororities and Other Secret Societies.

§ 2554-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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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 its 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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