State legislators are expected to amend New York's new law regulating high temperatures in school classrooms. 

Gov. Kathy Hochul signed a bill into law last month after agreeing to make the change with the Legislature.

The law sets the maximum temperature a classroom can reach at 88 degrees before students have to be removed from the setting. 

The amendment agreed to will change the wording to say schools will need a plan to remove students and staff from those rooms “where practicable,” which gives districts more leeway.  

“[It] at least opens the door for some local conversations between school district leadership, staff and the community potentially about what exactly would be practicable,” said Brian Fessler, chief advocacy officer of the New York State School Boards Association.

The new law goes into effect in September.

The law leaves it up to individual districts to develop specific policies that fall in line with the new state law. Closing school for a “heat day” — akin to snow days — could put that district in jeopardy of not hitting the state-mandated 180 days of school.

"It doesn’t make sense to evacuate a school classroom or building or wing half an hour before the end of the school day. I think from our perspective, probably not. That’s more disruptive than it would be helpful," Fessler said. 

Schools are expected to finalize their plans in the coming months.

Correction: This story has been updated to clarify the changes being made to the law.