What's happening
This bill requires New York schools to include instruction on the Federalist Papers and the U.S. Constitution in grades 9-12.
Why it matters
Deepens civic literacy for high schoolers. By requiring focused instruction on the Federalist Papers and the full U.S. Constitution, the bill aims to give students a more nuanced understanding of how American government was designed and the reasoning behind its core principles.
Standardizes curriculum statewide. Mandating these topics ensures that all New York students in grades 9-12 receive consistent exposure to foundational government documents, regardless of district or school type (public or private).
Potentially impacts teaching priorities and resources. Schools may need to adjust existing social studies curricula, retrain teachers, and allocate new resources to ensure comprehensive coverage of the Federalist Papers, which are complex historical texts not commonly emphasized.
Could foster critical thinking and debate. Studying the Federalist Papers alongside the Constitution encourages students to grapple with historical arguments about federal power, individual rights, and the intentions of the framers, possibly enhancing their ability to analyze and discuss current political issues.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Teach Constitution 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
378
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE (Prefiled)
January 9, 2019
Introduced by Sen. LANZA -- 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 courses of instruction on the constitution of the United States and the federalist papers
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivisions 2 and 3 of section 801 of the education law, subdivision 2 as amended by chapter 481 of the laws of 1949 and subdivision 3 as amended by chapter 574 of the laws of 1997, are amended and a new subdivision 6 is added to read as follows:
2. The regents shall prescribe courses of instruction in the history, meaning, significance and effect of the provisions of the constitution of the United States, the amendments thereto, the federalist papers, the declaration of independence, the constitution of the state of New York and the amendments thereto, to be maintained and followed in all of 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, in the eighth and higher grades, shall attend upon such instruction.
Similar courses of instruction shall be prescribed and maintained in private schools in the state, and all pupils in such schools in grades or classes corresponding to the instruction in the eighth and higher grades of the public schools shall attend upon such courses. If such courses are not so established and maintained in a private school, attendance upon instruction in such school shall not be deemed substantially equivalent to instruction given to pupils in the public schools of the city or district in which such pupils reside.
3. The regents shall determine the subjects to be included in such courses of instruction in patriotism, citizenship, and human rights
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03539-01-9
S. 378 2
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 in the history, meaning, significance and effect of the provisions of the constitution of the United States, the amendments thereto, the federalist papers, 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.
6. The regents shall establish and implement a course of instruction on the history, meaning, significance and effect of the federalist papers and the provisions of the constitution of the United States and all amendments thereto. Such course of instruction established pursuant to this subdivision shall be provided to all pupils in grades nine through twelve.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the first of July next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law.
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 courses of instruction on the constitution of the United States and the federalist papers
Purpose
Requires a course of instruction on the provisions of the Federalist Papers and the United States Constitution to be provided to high school students
Summary of specific provisions
Section one amends subdivision 2 and 3 of section 801 of the education law, subdivision 2 as amended by chapter 481 of the laws of 1949 and subdivision 3 as amended by chapter 574 of the laws of 1997, are amended and a new subdivision 6 is added.
Section two is the effective date.
Justification
We live in a country where the Constitution is a revered document, and we live in a state where the Federalist Papers were helpful in the passage of the Constitution. Even today the Federalist Papers serve as a means to understand the intent behind the articles of the Constitution and are sometimes used in judicial decisions, It is important for the youth of New York State to learn about the rich and patriotic context of the Federalist Papers in order to enrich their civic education and help them become better citizens of this great state and country.
Legislative history
2018: S.4364- Referredto Education 2017: S.4364- Referred to Education 2016: S.4509- Referred to Education 2015: S.4509- Referredto Education 2014: S.2134- Referredto Education 2012: S.7261- Referredto Education
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the first of July next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.