What's happening
This bill requires New York public schools to incorporate Indian Subcontinent and Indo-Caribbean studies into their curriculum.
Why it matters
Broadens cultural education. By requiring instruction about the Indian Subcontinent and Indo-Caribbean communities, the bill aims to expose students to the histories, literatures, and cultures of a significant and diverse population that is often underrepresented in traditional curricula.
Local flexibility. The legislation allows individual school districts to tailor the content to their local needs and populations, rather than mandating a one-size-fits-all approach statewide, which could make the instruction more relevant and impactful for different communities.
State oversight and implementation. The Board of Regents is tasked with determining how this content will fit into existing curricula, while the Commissioner of Education will create and enforce regulations, ensuring the changes are systematically and thoughtfully integrated into schools.
Potential for increased representation. By including these studies, the bill supports greater visibility and acknowledgment for students of Indian Subcontinent and Indo-Caribbean heritage, which could enhance inclusivity, student engagement, and cultural understanding across the broader student body.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Teach Indo-Caribbean Studies
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to education
- Referred to education
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Teach Indo-Caribbean History
In Assembly Committee · Education · Sponsor Michael G. Miller
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1587
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 10, 2017
Introduced by Sen. AVELLA -- 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 public schools to incorporate instruction in Indian Subcontinent/Indo-Caribbean studies into the existing curriculum
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The education law is amended by adding a new section 801-b to read as follows:
§ 801-b. Education regarding Indian Subcontinent/Indo-Caribbean studies. 1. All public schools shall be authorized to include, as an integral part of social studies or literature, instruction regarding Indian Subcontinent/Indo-Caribbean studies. The content may be varied to meet the needs of particular school districts, or portions thereof, and need not be uniform throughout the state.
2. As used in this section, "Indian Subcontinent/Indo-Caribbean studies" means education regarding the history, literature and/or culture of groups of persons having origins in the Indian subcontinent.
3. The regents shall determine how to incorporate such component in existing curricula and the commissioner shall promulgate any regulations needed to carry out such determination of the regents and to establish a curriculum for instruction in Indian Subcontinent/Indo-Caribbean studies to be available in school districts.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately and shall apply to all school years commencing on or after July 1, 2018.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00686-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the education law, in relation to requiring public schools to incorporate instruction in Indian Subcontinent/Indo-Caribbean studies into the existing curriculum
Purpose or general idea of bill
The legislation will allow public schools to include, as part of their social studies or literature, instruction regarding South Asian studies, regarding the history, literature and/or culture of groups originating in the Indian subcontinent.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 of the bill amends the education law by adding a new section 801-b which sets forth details for the component of Indian Subcontinent/Indo-Caribbean Studies curriculum.
Section 2 provides for this act to take effect immediately and shall apply to all school years commencing on or after July 1, 2017.
Justification
The South Asian population in New York is rapidly growing, with over 200,000 residents of Indian Subcontinent / Indo-Caribbean descent in Queens alone. It is important that our students are receiving a well-rounded education exposing them to the heritage and tradition of a vast array of cultures.
Legislative history
2012: S.4823-A 2013-14: S.1014 / A.268-A (Miller) 2015-16: S.931 / A.487 (Miller)
Fiscal implications for state and local governments
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately and shall apply to all school years commencing on or after July 1, 2018.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.