What's happening
This bill requires public schools to include instruction on civility, citizenship, and character education, emphasizing respect and sensitivity to diversity.
Why it matters
Expands the definition of "tolerance," "respect for others," and "dignity". in school instruction to explicitly include awareness and sensitivity to harassment, bullying, and discrimination based on race, weight, national origin, ethnicity, religion, religious practice, mental or physical abilities, sexual orientation, gender, and sex.
Directs the Board of Regents and Education Commissioner. to ensure that all public schools incorporate these expanded concepts into existing curricula, potentially affecting how topics like bullying prevention and diversity are taught statewide.
Aims to create a more inclusive and respectful school environment. by formally codifying sensitivity to a broader range of identities and experiences, which could reduce incidents of harassment and foster a safer, more welcoming environment for all students.
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Who cares
Public school teachers and curriculum administrators
The bill would specify that the definitions of tolerance, respect for others and dignity apply to public school courses, including awareness of harassment and discrimination across the listed personal characteristics.
Nonpublic schools
The bill would limit those statutory definitions to public school instruction, rather than leaving them unqualified by school type.
Board of Regents and education commissioner
The bill would narrow the scope of definitions within the civility, citizenship and character education requirements they oversee through curriculum decisions and regulations.
Headline styles
Teach Respect in Schools
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
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 Respect in Schools
In Senate Committee · Education · Sponsor Kevin S. Parker
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2457
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 22, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. SOLAGES -- read once and referred to the Committee on Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to making certain provisions applicable to public schools relating to instruction in civility, citizenship and character education
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 801-a of the education law, as amended by chapter 102 of the laws of 2012, is amended to read as follows:
§ 801-a. Instruction in civility, citizenship and character education. The regents shall ensure that the course of instruction in grades kindergarten through twelve includes a component on civility, citizenship and character education. Such component shall instruct students on the principles of honesty, tolerance, personal responsibility, respect for others, with an emphasis on discouraging acts of harassment, bullying, discrimination, observance of laws and rules, courtesy, dignity and other traits which will enhance the quality of their experiences in, and contributions to, the community. Such component shall include instruction of safe, responsible use of the internet and electronic communications. 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. For the purposes of this section for courses of instruction in public schools, "tolerance," "respect for others" and "dignity" shall include awareness and sensitivity to harassment, bullying, discrimination and civility in the relations of people of different races, weights, national origins, ethnic groups, religions, religious practices, mental or physical abilities, sexual orientations, genders, and sexes.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04253-01-9
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.