S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   2559
 
                        2023-2024 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             January 26, 2023
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  M.  of  A. COLTON, DAVILA, REYES, EPSTEIN, SIMON -- read
   once and referred to the Committee on Education
 
 AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to requiring  instruction
   in Asian American and Pacific Islander history
 
   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  801-b
 to read as follows:
   §  801-B. INSTRUCTION IN  ASIAN AMERICAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER HISTORY.
 1. COMMENCING WITH THE TWO THOUSAND  TWENTY-FOUR--TWO  THOUSAND  TWENTY-
 FIVE  SCHOOL  YEAR, EVERY PUBLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL SHALL
 INCLUDE AS A REQUIRED CURRICULUM  IN  EACH  GRADE  KINDERGARTEN  THROUGH
 TWELFTH  GRADE  A  UNIT OF INSTRUCTION COVERING EVENTS OF ASIAN AMERICAN
 AND PACIFIC ISLANDER HISTORY.
   2. INSTRUCTION REQUIRED BY THIS  SECTION  SHALL  INCLUDE  BUT  NOT  BE
 LIMITED TO THE FOLLOWING:
   A.  THE  HISTORY  OF  ASIAN AMERICAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDERS IN NEW YORK
 INCLUDING THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN MUSIC,  THE  ARTS,  FINANCIAL  ENTER-
 PRISE, GOVERNMENT, SCIENCE AND CULTURE;
   B.  THE  HISTORY OF ASIAN AMERICANS AND THEIR ROLE IN THE CONSTRUCTION
 OF THE CONTINENTAL RAILROAD; AND
   C. THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF ASIAN AMERICAN AND PACIFIC  ISLANDERS  TO  THE
 CULTURAL,  POLITICAL,  SOCIAL  AND  ECONOMIC  DEVELOPMENT  OF THE UNITED
 STATES.
   3. A. THE COMMISSIONER SHALL PROVIDE ASSISTANCE IN DEVELOPING  AGE-AP-
 PROPRIATE CURRICULUM FOR EACH GRADE.
   B.    THE REGENTS SHALL ADOPT RULES FOR THE CURRICULUM COURSE REQUIRED
 TO EFFECTUATE SUCH COURSES OF STUDIES AS  AN  APPROPRIATE  PART  OF  THE
 CURRICULUM FOR ASIAN AMERICAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER STUDIES.
   4.  THE  COMMISSIONER SHALL MAKE AVAILABLE TO ALL PUBLIC SCHOOLS SUIT-
 ABLE EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS TO EFFECTUATE THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION IN
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD00931-01-3
              

 A. 2559                             2
 
 ASIAN AMERICAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDERS STUDIES AND SHALL  MAKE  RULES  AND
 REGULATIONS GOVERNING SUCH COURSES OF STUDY.
   5.  THE COMMISSIONER SHALL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ENFORCING THE PROVISIONS
 OF THIS SECTION.
   § 2. This act shall take effect on the first of July  next  succeeding
 the date upon which it shall have become a law.