What's happening
This bill establishes a commission to develop and recommend updates to New York's civics education curriculum for K-12 schools.
Why it matters
Broad Representation Shapes Curriculum. The commission will include members from across the state’s education system—such as K-12 educators, university leaders, historians, and civics experts—helping ensure updates to the civics curriculum reflect diverse perspectives and regional needs, rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.
Focus on Practical, Engaging Civics Learning. The bill emphasizes simulation-based learning (mock trials, legislative hearings, advocacy activities) to actively engage students in the democratic process, which research suggests may lead to stronger civic knowledge and participation than traditional textbook instruction.
Systematic Review and Accountability. The commission is required to survey current curricula, develop recommendations, and report findings to state leaders within a year. This structured process aims to identify gaps in current civics education and ensure timely updates, rather than leaving curriculum modernization to sporadic or piecemeal efforts.
Potential for Local Flexibility. While recommendations from the commission will guide updates, school districts retain some discretion in how civics content is implemented, allowing adaptation to local context and student needs while setting a statewide baseline for civics education.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Create Civics Curriculum Commission
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to education
- Referred to education
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
737
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE (Prefiled)
January 9, 2019
Introduced by Sen. MONTGOMERY -- 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 establishing the commission on civics education curriculum
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 817 to read as follows:
§ 817. Civics education curriculum. 1. The commission on civics education curriculum; established. (a) The commission on civics education curriculum is hereby created and established. The commission shall consist of eleven members, including the commissioner, or his or her designee, the chancellor of New York city schools, or his or her designee, the chancellor of the state university of New York, or his or her designee, the chancellor of the city university of New York, or his or her designee, and the chancellor of the board of regents, or his or her designee, three members appointed by the chancellor of the board of regents who shall be members of the board of regents, one member appointed by the governor, one member appointed by the temporary president of the senate, and one member appointed by the speaker of the assembly. Appointed members shall represent geographic diversity of the state and shall include but not be limited to teachers, including K-12 educators, historians, and those with a background in civics.
(b) Each member shall serve for a term of one year. A vacancy occurring other than by expiration of term shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment for the unexpired term.
(c) The members of the commission shall serve without compensation but shall be entitled to reimbursement for all necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03557-01-9
S. 737 2
(d) The commissioner, or his or her designee, shall serve as the chair and the chancellor of New York city schools, or his or her designee, shall serve as the vice-chair of the commission. The presence of a majority of the authorized membership of the commission shall be required for the conduct of official business.
(e) The department shall provide technical assistance and data to the commission as may be necessary for the commission to carry out its responsibilities pursuant to this section.
2. Duties and responsibilities of the commission. (a) The commission shall be tasked with developing and recommending instruction that amends the current civics curriculum as part of New York's education curriculum, which shall include but shall not be limited to, the New York state constitution, state and local government, civic literacy, community issues, methods of public participation, and the rights and responsibilities of citizenship. In furtherance of this goal, the commission shall have the following duties and responsibilities:
(i) To survey and review current elementary and secondary education curriculum as it relates to civics instruction and curriculum;
(ii) To develop recommendations to amend or include additional curriculum and instruction for grades kindergarten through twelve that incorporate civics education curriculum, with a focus on simulation-based approaches, including but not limited to mock trials, moot court, advocating for issues students have studied, simulated legislative hearings, and other role-playing exercises that engage students in the democratic process first hand; and
(iii) To prepare a report for the governor and legislature regarding its findings and recommendations on current curriculum and incorporating additional instruction on civics education curriculum.
(b) The commission shall submit a report within one year of the effective date of this section, to the governor and legislature on its findings and recommendations.
3. Civics education curriculum or instruction. (a) The commissioner, in conjunction with other appropriate agencies, shall amend the current civics education curriculum or instruction for school districts based on the recommendations of the commission. The content shall be age appropriate and shall be developed according to the needs and abilities of pupils at successive grade levels in order to provide materials, and information in civics education.
(b) Schools may include the above materials as a component of its civics curriculum or any other way the school deems appropriate.
§ 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 establishing the commission on civics education curriculum
Purpose
This bill would create a commission of eleven members who shall be tasked with creating and recommending a civics education curriculum to be adopted by school districts across the state.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 of the bill amends the education law by adding a new section 817, establishing the commission on civics education curriculum. The commission shall consist of 11 members including the Commissioner of Education, the Chancellor of NYC schools, the Chancellor of SUNY, the Chancellor of CUNY, the Chancellor of the Board of Regents, three members appointed by the Chancellor of the Board of Regents who shall be members of the Board Regents, one member appointed by the Governor, one member appointed by the temporary President of the Senate, one member appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly, and their respective desig- nees. The commission shall be tasked with developing and recommending instruction that amends the current civics curriculum as part of New York's education curriculum.
Read the full memo (612 words)
Section 2 establishes the enactment date
Justification
Previous generations were taught civics as a stand-alone class, but since the late 1960's "Civics", "Democracy and Government" and "American history" have been combined into one class, leaving little room for teaching the nuances of government. If our children do not understand how government works and its impact on their daily lives, why should they feel the need to be active participants in the democratic process?
According to the Census Bureau, only 55.7% of the U.S voting-age popu- lation cast ballots in the 2016 presidential election. In addition, a recent report by the New York City's Board of Elections details the alarmingly low voter turnout in the 2016 State and Local primary election. Of the 2,312,481 eligible active voters, there was only a 10% turnout at 223,119. People's sense of civic duty is not as present as it was in the past, and one of the reasons for that may be the lack of civic education taught in our school system.
To solve this problem, we should create and implement a comprehensive civic education curriculum in New York State public and charter schools. Students feel as if their government is light years away. However, if they learned about their local elected officials, what they did and how it impacts every facet of their day-to-day lives, they would feel the need to be involved in their communities and active in the civic proc- ess.
The curriculum shall focus on state and local government, civic litera- cy, current political and community issues, methods of public partic- ipation, and the rights and responsibilities of citizenship. The curriculum will also use a simulation-based approach. Students will be required to participate in activities and roll playing exercises where the fundamentals of democracy are realized first hand.
We should look to other states to see what programs and simulation activities have worked best. In 2015, the Judicially Speaking Program was created and implemented in the state of Colorado. Started by three local judges, the program teaches students how judges think through civics as they make decisions. They use interactive exercises and first- hand experience to teach students regarding the role of the judiciary in the American legal system. Programs like these can be the model for simulation activities for New York States curriculum.
A stand-alone comprehensive civics education curriculum with a simula- tion-based approach will serve as a gateway to citizens understanding their civic duties and encourage citizens to reclaim the civic arena.
Fiscal implications
To be determined
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.