S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   2107
 
                        2021-2022 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             January 14, 2021
                                ___________
 
 Introduced by M. of A. SIMON, ENGLEBRIGHT, MAGNARELLI -- Multi-Sponsored
   by  --  M.  of  A.  ASHBY,  COOK,  CRUZ, DeSTEFANO, DICKENS, DINOWITZ,
   EPSTEIN, FERNANDEZ, GLICK, GOTTFRIED, GRIFFIN,  JEAN-PIERRE,  McMAHON,
   MONTESANO, PICHARDO, REYES, SAYEGH, SCHMITT, SMULLEN, WOERNER, ZEBROW-
   SKI -- 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.
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                            LBD01136-01-1

 A. 2107                             2
 
   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
 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.