What's happening
This bill allows school districts, charter schools, and BOCES to add music and art to prekindergarten programs.
Why it matters
Early access to arts education. By explicitly permitting music and art in prekindergarten, the bill encourages schools to introduce creative and developmental experiences at a formative age, which research shows can improve cognitive and social skills.
Local flexibility and innovation. The amendment gives school districts, charter schools, and BOCES the choice—not a mandate—to add these programs, allowing them to tailor early childhood education to community needs and resources.
Potential for equity in enrichment opportunities. Authorizing (rather than requiring) arts inclusion may help level the playing field for young children, especially in under-resourced areas where such enrichment is often lacking, potentially reducing opportunity gaps from the earliest years.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Add Art, Music to Pre-K
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to education
- Referred to education
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2449
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 22, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. SOLAGES, VANEL -- read once and referred to the Committee on Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to incorporating art and music into prekindergarten programs
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 805 to read as follows:
§ 805. Music and art in prekindergarten programs. School districts, charter schools, or boards of cooperative educational services may authorize the incorporation of music and art into prekindergarten programs.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04256-01-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.