What's happening
This bill requires New York public schools to provide at least two hours per week of civics instruction for K-12 students, emphasizing civility, media literacy, ethics, and responsible internet use.
Why it matters
Expands civics education to include media literacy and responsible internet use. , aiming to prepare students for real-world challenges like misinformation, online safety, and digital citizenship from an early age.
Stresses practical application of civics lessons. , requiring instruction not just on knowledge, but on how these principles (like honesty, ethics, and respect) impact students’ daily lives and their communities, both short- and long-term.
Mandates a consistent statewide standard (two hours per week) for civics instruction. , ensuring that all public K-12 students, regardless of district, receive dedicated time for these lessons, potentially reducing disparities in civic education.
Addresses issues of harassment, bullying, and discrimination explicitly. , including sensitivity to differences in race, religion, ability, and other identities, with the goal of fostering safer, more inclusive school environments.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Require Weekly Civics Lessons
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.
Mandate Weekly Civics Lessons
In Assembly Committee · Education · Sponsor Nily Rozic
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1104
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 11, 2019
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 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. 1. 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, racial and global harmony, media literacy, personal responsibility, morals and ethics, 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. The instruction shall emphasize the practical application of such lessons and the short-term and long-term impact on the student's life and on the lives of others of implementing the lessons.
2. The boards of education and trustees of the cities and school districts of the state shall require instruction to be given in such matters for a minimum period of two hours per week, by the teachers employed in the schools therein, commencing with the two thousand nineteen--two thousand twenty school year. All pupils over the age of five years who attend public schools shall receive such instruction.
3. 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
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00812-01-9
S. 1104 2
commissioner shall promulgate any regulations needed to carry out such determination of the regents. For the purposes of this section, "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.
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 the public school curriculum for children in kindergarten through grade twelve to include a minimum of two hours per week instruction in civics lessons
Purpose
To incorporate into school curriculum, from kindergarten through grade 12, instruction in civility, citizenship, principle of honesty, toler- ance, racial and global harmony, personal responsibility, morals, ethics, respect for others, observance of laws and rules, courtesy, dignity, and other traits that will enhance the quality of their experi- ences in, and contributions to, the community.
Summary of provisions
Section I of the bill includes a broader scope of principles that will take on racial and global harmony and increase morals and ethics amongst students.
Section II of the bill requires that the boards of education and trus- tees of the cities and school districts to instruct the teachers employed in the schools commencing with the 2019-2020 school year, and kindergarten through 12th grade.
Section III sets forth the effective date.
Justification
With the increase of civic disengagement as reported in the media every day, the need to formally teach and encourage basic civic principles is paramount. Targeting our education system to mandate the teaching of civic duties is the best way to do so as the classroom provides an appropriate setting to harness democratic ideals and principles amongst students that will offset the lack thereof. it is up to the state's education system to make our students informed citizens of tomorrow. Society needs activists that will participate in elections and make well informed choices.
Florida has already taken on this role to educate its students in civic education by mandating that 30% of a child's final test grade in 2013 school year be affected by this. New York should set the tone by passing legislation to educate our students about their civic duties.
Prior legislative history
2017-2018: A.5933 (Hoylman) - Died in Education
Fiscal implications
To be determined
Effective date
This bill would take effect immediately
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.