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

> New York · Statutes · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NY_AEDN_T2_A35_S1709-A

## Section

- **Citation:** N.Y. EDN Law § 1709-A
- **Heading:** Powers of boards of education to ban fraternities, sororities and other secret societies
- **Jurisdiction:** New York
- **Kind:** Statutes
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** New York Code / Act EDN / Title 2 / Article 35 / Section 1709-A

## Text

§ 1709-a. Powers of boards of education to ban fraternities,\nsororities and other secret societies. 1. In its discretion, the board\nof education of each school district, may adopt rules and regulations to\nabolish and/or prohibit any fraternity, sorority or other secret society\nin any secondary school under its jurisdiction.\n 1 (a) Prior to the adoption and promulgation of a rule or regulation\nin accordance with the provisions of subdivision one of this section by\nany board of education of a school district, the board of education of\nthe school district must find that the fraternity, sorority or secret\nsociety group has by virtue of its activities caused or created a\ndisruption of or interference with the academic processes of any\nsecondary school within its jurisdiction or caused or created any\ninterference with or disruption of the academic progress of any\nindividual student or students in any secondary school within its\njurisdiction.\n 2. For the purposes of this chapter a fraternity, sorority or secret\nsociety shall mean any organization composed wholly or in part of pupils\nenrolled in public secondary schools which exists or seeks to perpetuate\nitself by taking in additional members from the pupils enrolled in such\nschools on the decision of the membership rather than upon the free\nchoice of any pupil in such school but shall not be construed to include\norganizations institutionally sponsored by agencies of public welfare,\nthe Boy Scouts of America, the Girl Scouts of America, the Campfire\nGirls, Young Men's Christian Association, Young Women's Christian\nAssociation, Young Men's Hebrew Association, Young Women's Hebrew\nAssociation, Catholic Youth Organization, Kiwanis International, Hi-Y or\nother similar organizations without limitation to the foregoing.\n 3. Upon and after the adoption and promulgation of a rule or\nregulation in accordance with the provisions of subdivision one of this\nsection by the board of education of any such school district, such\nboard of education may in any secondary school under it's jurisdiction\ndiscipline any pupil who shall promise to join, or shall become a member\nof, or shall remain a member of, or shall solicit other persons to join\nany such fraternity, sorority or secret society.\n

## Nearby sections

- [N.Y. EDN Law § 1701 Boards of education corporate bodies](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NY_AEDN_T2_A35_S1701.md)
- [N.Y. EDN Law § 1702 Board of education; election; terms of office](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NY_AEDN_T2_A35_S1702.md)
- [N.Y. EDN Law § 1703 Change in number of members of board of education](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NY_AEDN_T2_A35_S1703.md)
- [N.Y. EDN Law § 1704 Length of school year, and expenditure of funds](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NY_AEDN_T2_A35_S1704.md)
- [N.Y. EDN Law § 1705 Annexing territory to a union free school district](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NY_AEDN_T2_A35_S1705.md)
- [N.Y. EDN Law § 1706 Power of removal of member of board of education](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NY_AEDN_T2_A35_S1706.md)
- [N.Y. EDN Law § 1707 Annual organizational meetings of boards of education](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NY_AEDN_T2_A35_S1707.md)
- [N.Y. EDN Law § 1708 Regular meetings; visitation of schools](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NY_AEDN_T2_A35_S1708.md)
- [N.Y. EDN Law § 1709 Powers and duties of boards of education](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NY_AEDN_T2_A35_S1709.md)
- [N.Y. EDN Law § 1709-A Powers of boards of education to ban fraternities, sororities and other secret societies](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NY_AEDN_T2_A35_S1709-A.md)
- [N.Y. EDN Law § 1710 Boards of education have powers of trustees of common schools and trustees of academies](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NY_AEDN_T2_A35_S1710.md)
- [N.Y. EDN Law § 1711 Appointment of superintendent of schools](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NY_AEDN_T2_A35_S1711.md)
- [N.Y. EDN Law § 1712 Kindergartens; nursery and night schools](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NY_AEDN_T2_A35_S1712.md)
- [N.Y. EDN Law § 1713 Academy may be adopted as academic department](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NY_AEDN_T2_A35_S1713.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_NY_AEDN_T2_A35_S1709-A. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.