Bill Text: NY S05933 | 2017-2018 | General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Requires the public school curriculum for children in kindergarten through grade twelve to include a minimum of two hours per week instruction in civics lessons.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2018-01-03 - REFERRED TO EDUCATION [S05933 Detail]

Download: New_York-2017-S05933-Introduced.html

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                STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________
                                          5933
                               2017-2018 Regular Sessions
                    IN SENATE
                                       May 8, 2017
                                       ___________
        Introduced  by  Sen. HOYLMAN -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
          printed to be committed to the Committee on Education
        AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to requiring  the  public
          school curriculum for children in kindergarten through grade twelve to
          include a minimum of two hours per week instruction in civics lessons
          The  People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-
        bly, do enact as follows:
     1    Section 1. Section 801-a of the education law, as amended  by  chapter
     2  102 of the laws of 2012, is amended to read as follows:
     3    § 801-a. Instruction in civility, citizenship and character education.
     4  1.  The  regents  shall  ensure that the course of instruction in grades
     5  kindergarten through twelve includes a component on  civility,  citizen-
     6  ship  and character education. Such component shall instruct students on
     7  the  principles  of  honesty,  tolerance,  racial  and  global  harmony,
     8  personal  responsibility, morals and ethics, respect for others, with an
     9  emphasis on discouraging acts of harassment,  bullying,  discrimination,
    10  observance  of  laws and rules, courtesy, dignity and other traits which
    11  will enhance the quality of their experiences in, and contributions  to,
    12  the community. The instruction shall emphasize the practical application
    13  of such lessons and the short-term and long-term impact on the student's
    14  life and on the lives of others of implementing the lessons.
    15    2.  The  boards  of  education  and  trustees of the cities and school
    16  districts of the state shall require instruction to  be  given  in  such
    17  matters  for  a  minimum  period  of two hours per week, by the teachers
    18  employed in the schools therein, commencing with the two thousand seven-
    19  teen--two thousand eighteen school year. All pupils over the age of five
    20  years who attend public schools shall receive such instruction.
    21    3. Such component shall include instruction of safe,  responsible  use
    22  of  the internet and electronic communications. The regents shall deter-
    23  mine how to incorporate such component in  existing  curricula  and  the
    24  commissioner  shall  promulgate any regulations needed to carry out such
         EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD00410-01-7
        S. 5933                             2
     1  determination of the regents. For the purposes of this section,  "toler-
     2  ance,"  "respect  for  others" and "dignity" shall include awareness and
     3  sensitivity to harassment, bullying, discrimination and civility in  the
     4  relations  of  people  of  different  races,  weights, national origins,
     5  ethnic groups, religions, religious practices, mental or physical abili-
     6  ties, sexual orientations, genders, and sexes.
     7    § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.