S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   7201
 
                        2019-2020 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                              April 12, 2019
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by M. of A. SIMON -- read once and referred to the Committee
   on Education
 
 AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to requiring civic educa-
   tion courses for grades five through twelve
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

   Section 1. The education law is amended by adding a new section 817 to
 read as follows:
   §  817.  INSTRUCTION  IN  CIVIC  EDUCATION.  1. THE COMMISSIONER SHALL
 ESTABLISH A CURRICULUM FOR INSTRUCTION IN CIVIC EDUCATION IN ALL SCHOOLS
 PROVIDING INSTRUCTION TO STUDENTS IN GRADES FIVE THROUGH  TWELVE.  LOCAL
 BOARDS  OF EDUCATION AND THE CHANCELLOR OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF THE
 CITY OF NEW YORK MAY ADOPT THEIR OWN CURRICULUM UPON THE APPROVAL OF THE
 COMMISSIONER.
   2. SUCH INSTRUCTION SHALL  INCLUDE,  BUT  SHALL  NOT  BE  LIMITED  TO,
 INSTRUCTION ON THE NEW YORK STATE CONSTITUTION; FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL
 GOVERNMENT;  CIVIC  LITERACY;  METHODS  OF PUBLIC PARTICIPATION; AND THE
 RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF CITIZENSHIP. SUCH CURRICULUM  SHALL  HAVE
 AN  EXPERIENTIAL,  SIMULATION, AND PROJECT-BASED APPROACH, INCLUDING BUT
 NOT LIMITED TO, MOCK TRIALS; MOOT COURT; OPPORTUNITIES TO  IDENTIFY  AND
 DEBATE  ISSUES RELATIVE TO POWER, ECONOMIC STATUS AND THE COMMON GOOD IN
 DEMOCRACY, ADVOCACY, AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZING; SIMULATION BASED LEGISLA-
 TIVE HEARINGS; AND OTHER ROLE PLAYING EXERCISES THAT ENGAGE STUDENTS  IN
 THE  DEMOCRATIC  PROCESS  AND  THAT  TEACH THEM HOW TO BE INFORMED CIVIC
 ACTORS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.
   3. THE BOARDS OF EDUCATION AND TRUSTEES  OF  THE  SEVERAL  CITIES  AND
 SCHOOL  DISTRICTS  OF THE STATE SHALL REQUIRE INSTRUCTION TO BE GIVEN IN
 SUCH COURSE, BY THE TEACHERS EMPLOYED IN THE SCHOOL THEREIN.
   4. THE COMMISSIONER SHALL PROMULGATE RULES AND  REGULATIONS  OUTLINING
 THE  TRAINING OF TEACHERS PROVIDING SUCH CIVIC EDUCATION INSTRUCTION AND
 MATERIALS TO BE PROVIDED FOR SUCH INSTRUCTION. THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OR
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                            LBD08459-04-9

 A. 7201                             2
 
 TRUSTEES OF EVERY SCHOOL DISTRICT SHALL PROVIDE APPROPRIATE TRAINING AND
 CURRICULUM MATERIALS, AS PROMULGATED BY THE COMMISSIONER, TO SUCH TEACH-
 ERS.
   § 2. This act shall take effect two years after it shall have become a
 law,  provided,  however, that effective immediately the commissioner of
 education is authorized to adopt any rules or regulations  necessary  to
 implement the provisions of this act on such effective date.