NY State Senate Bill 2017-S8958

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Rules Committee

Introduced
- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
Delivered to Governor
Signed By Governor

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Date of Action	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Jun 07, 2018	referred to rules

2017-S8958 (ACTIVE) - Details

Current Committee:: Senate Rules
Law Section:: Education Law
Laws Affected:: Add §817, Ed L
Versions Introduced in 2019-2020 Legislative Session:: S737

2017-S8958 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Establishes the commission on civics education curriculum; such commission shall be tasked with developing and recommending instruction that amends the current civics curriculum as part of New York's education curriculum.

2017-S8958 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                
 
BILL NUMBER: S8958

SPONSOR: MONTGOMERY
 
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.

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

2017-S8958 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                            
 
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   8958
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                               June 7, 2018
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen.  MONTGOMERY  -- read twice and ordered printed, and
   when printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules
 
 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 ASSEM-
 BLY, 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 EDUCA-
 TION 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 DESIG-
 NEE, 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 PRESI-
 DENT 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 OCCUR-
 RING 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.
   (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.
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets

                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD16121-01-8

 S. 8958                             2

   (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  CURRIC-
 ULUM,  WHICH  SHALL  INCLUDE  BUT  SHALL NOT BE LIMITED TO, THE NEW YORK
 STATE CONSTITUTION, STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT, CIVIC LITERACY, COMMUNI-
 TY ISSUES, METHODS OF PUBLIC PARTICIPATION, AND THE RIGHTS AND RESPONSI-
 BILITIES 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 CURRIC-
 ULUM AND INSTRUCTION FOR GRADES KINDERGARTEN THROUGH TWELVE THAT  INCOR-
 PORATE  CIVICS  EDUCATION  CURRICULUM,  WITH A FOCUS ON SIMULATION-BASED
 APPROACHES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO MOCK TRIALS, MOOT COURT,  ADVO-
 CATING 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 EFFEC-
 TIVE  DATE OF THIS SECTION, TO THE GOVERNOR AND LEGISLATURE ON ITS FIND-
 INGS 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  APPRO-
 PRIATE  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.

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Senate Bill S8958

Sponsored By

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Rules Committee

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2017-S8958 (ACTIVE) - Details

2017-S8958 (ACTIVE) - Summary

2017-S8958 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2017-S8958 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments

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Sponsored By

Velmanette Montgomery

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Rules Committee

Actions

2017-S8958 (ACTIVE) - Details

2017-S8958 (ACTIVE) - Summary

2017-S8958 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2017-S8958 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments