What's happening
This bill requires New York schools to include the September 11, 2001 attacks in courses on patriotism and citizenship.
Why it matters
Expanding Civic Education. By explicitly requiring instruction on the September 11 attacks, the bill ensures that all students learn about a pivotal event in recent national and state history, not just as current events but as part of the broader context of patriotism, citizenship, and human rights.
Mandated Statewide Curriculum Consistency. The amendment means every public school in New York must address the 9/11 attacks, reducing variation in how or whether this history is taught across districts and ensuring a shared base of understanding among students.
Shaping Collective Memory and Values. Including September 11 alongside other major historical events (like the Holocaust and slavery) signals its significance in shaping civic identity, encouraging students to reflect on its impact on American values, national security, and individual rights.
Potential for Sensitive and Complex Discussions. The requirement may prompt schools to address challenging topics such as terrorism, religious and cultural diversity, and civil liberties, potentially fostering critical thinking but also necessitating careful, age-appropriate instruction to navigate sensitive issues.
Albany, before your first meeting.
Every bill that moved yesterday, summarized in a sentence and ranked by impact. The Albany Scorecard follows on Sundays.
Free. Unsubscribe in one click. Want alerts on specific bills? Create an account.
Who cares
Headline styles
Teach 9/11 in Schools
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to education
- Referred to education
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
350
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE (Prefiled)
January 9, 2019
Introduced by Sen. FELDER -- 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 including the attacks on September 11, 2001 in courses of instruction in patriotism and citizenship
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The opening paragraph of subdivision 1 and subdivision 3 of section 801 of the education law, as amended by chapter 574 of the laws of 1997, are amended to read as follows:
In order to promote a spirit of patriotic and civic service and obligation and to foster in the children of the state moral and intellectual qualities which are essential in preparing to meet the obligations of citizenship in peace or in war, the regents of The University of the State of New York shall prescribe courses of instruction in patriotism, citizenship, and human rights issues, with particular attention to the study of the inhumanity of genocide, slavery (including the freedom trail and underground railroad), the Holocaust, [and] the mass starvation in Ireland from 1845 to 1850, and the attacks on September 11, 2001, to be maintained and followed in all the schools of the state. The boards of education and trustees of the several cities and school districts of the state shall require instruction to be given in such courses, by the teachers employed in the schools therein. All pupils attending such schools, over the age of eight years, shall attend upon such instruction.
3. The regents shall determine the subjects to be included in such courses of instruction in patriotism, citizenship, and human rights issues, with particular attention to the study of the inhumanity of genocide, slavery (including the freedom trail and underground railroad), the Holocaust, [and] the mass starvation in Ireland from 1845 to
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02610-01-9
S. 350 2
1850, and the attacks on September 11, 2001, and in the history, meaning, significance and effect of the provisions of the constitution of the United States, the amendments thereto, the declaration of independence, the constitution of the state of New York and the amendments thereto, and the period of instruction in each of the grades in such subjects. They shall adopt rules providing for attendance upon such instruction and for such other matters as are required for carrying into effect the objects and purposes of this section. The commissioner shall be responsible for the enforcement of such section and shall cause to be inspected and supervise the instruction to be given in such subjects. The commissioner may, in his discretion, cause all or a portion of the public school money to be apportioned to a district or city to be withheld for failure of the school authorities of such district or city to provide instruction in such courses and to compel attendance upon such instruction, as herein prescribed, and for a non-compliance with the rules of the regents adopted as herein provided.
§ 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 including the attacks on September 11, 2001 in courses of instruction in patriotism and citizenship
Purpose
This bill would ensure that current and future generations of New York State school children are appropriately educated on the attacks of September 11th, 2001.
Summary of provisions
This bill would amend Section 801 of the Education Law to add the attacks on American soil on September 11, 2001 to the list of courses for instruction in patriotism and citizenship in New York schools.
Justification
On September 11, 2001, America suffered a terrorist attack on its soil resulting in the loss of over 3,000 American lives. The resulting devas- tation of the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in downtown Manhat- tan, to the Pentagon in Washington D.C. and the crash of United Airlines Flight 93 in Pennsylvania, left an indelible mark on American and world society and history.
The tragedy of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 is not currently taught in all New York schools. The magnitude of the event on Americans and New Yorkers demands that it should be a Part of our schools' core curriculum and taught at an age appropriate level as determined by State Education Department guidelines.
Such guidelines exist in current Social Studies Standards in the State Education Department's Global History and Geography Online Resource incorporate turning point lessons, defined as a decisive moment or an event marking a unique or important historical change of course that includes a lesson plan on September 11th.
This legislation gives appropriate weight to the importance of this critical moment in history and ensures that current and future gener- ations of New York students will all be instructed on the events of that day, by requiring that all schools dedicate appropriate time and resources to teaching the events of that forever changed America and the world.
Legislative history
2017-18: S.1106 - Referred to Education 2015-16: S.289 - Referred to Education.
Budget implications
None noted.
Effective date
This act would take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.