The New York State Senate

                    S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________

                                  4653

                       2009-2010 Regular Sessions

                          I N  A S S E M B L Y

                            February 5, 2009
                               ___________

Introduced by M. of A. MENG, PHEFFER, DelMONTE -- read once and referred
  to the Committee on Education

AN  ACT  to amend the education law, in relation to requiring the public
  school curriculum for children in kindergarten through grade twelve to
  include a minimum of two hours per week instruction in civics lessons

  THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section 1. Section 801-a of the education law, as added by chapter 181
of the laws of 2000, is amended to read as follows:
  S 801-a. Instruction in civility, citizenship and character education.
1.  The  regents  shall  ensure that the course of instruction in grades
kindergarten through twelve includes a component on  civility,  citizen-
ship  and character education. Such component shall instruct students on
the  principles  of  honesty,  tolerance,  RACIAL  AND  GLOBAL  HARMONY,
personal  responsibility, MORALS, ETHICS, respect for others, observance
of laws and rules, courtesy, dignity and other traits which will enhance
the quality of their experiences in, and contributions to, the  communi-
ty.    THE INSTRUCTION SHALL EMPHASIZE THE PRACTICAL APPLICATION OF SUCH
LESSONS AND THE SHORT-TERM AND LONG-TERM IMPACT ON  THE  STUDENT'S  LIFE
AND ON THE LIVES OF OTHERS OF IMPLEMENTING THE LESSONS.
  2.  THE  BOARDS  OF  EDUCATION  AND  TRUSTEES OF THE CITIES AND SCHOOL
DISTRICTS OF THE STATE SHALL REQUIRE INSTRUCTION TO  BE  GIVEN  IN  SUCH
MATTERS  FOR  A  MINIMUM  PERIOD  OF TWO HOURS PER WEEK, BY THE TEACHERS
EMPLOYED IN THE  SCHOOLS  THEREIN,  COMMENCING  WITH  THE  TWO  THOUSAND
NINE--TWO  THOUSAND  TEN  SCHOOL  YEAR.  ALL PUPILS OVER THE AGE OF FIVE
YEARS WHO ATTEND PUBLIC SCHOOLS SHALL RECEIVE SUCH INSTRUCTION.
  3. The regents shall determine how to incorporate  such  component  in
existing curricula and the commissioner shall promulgate any regulations
needed to carry out such determination of the regents.
  S 2. This act shall take effect immediately.

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD05300-01-9