S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
9886
I N A S S E M B L Y
February 20, 2020
___________
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 establishing a model
environmental curriculum in all elementary and secondary schools
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. MODEL ENVIRONMENTAL CURRICULUM. 1. THE COMMISSIONER SHALL
PROMULGATE RULES AND REGULATIONS TO ESTABLISH A MODEL ENVIRONMENTAL
CURRICULUM ON CLIMATE CHANGE TO BE TAUGHT IN ALL PUBLIC ELEMENTARY AND
SECONDARY SCHOOLS. SUCH MODEL ENVIRONMENTAL CURRICULUM SHALL INCLUDE,
BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO, THE PRINCIPLES AND CONCEPTS RELATED TO THE
FOLLOWING TOPICS:
A. AIR;
B. CLIMATE CHANGE;
C. ENERGY;
D. ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE;
E. ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY;
F. FISH AND WILDLIFE RESOURCES;
G. FORESTRY;
H. INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT;
I. OCEANS;
J. POLLUTION PREVENTION;
K. PUBLIC HEALTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT;
L. RESOURCE CONSERVATION, WASTE REDUCTION, AND RECYCLING;
M. TOXICS AND HAZARDOUS WASTE; AND
N. WATER.
2. THE MODEL ENVIRONMENTAL CURRICULUM SHALL BE ALIGNED WITH OTHER
COURSE SUBJECT STANDARDS OF INSTRUCTION AS SET FORTH BY THE DEPARTMENT
AND BE INCLUDED IN THE FOLLOWING COURSE SUBJECT'S STANDARDS OF INSTRUC-
TION, BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO:
A. SCIENCE;
B. HISTORY;
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD14561-02-9
A. 9886 2
C. SOCIAL STUDIES;
D. HEALTH; AND
E. MATHEMATICS.
3. ALL PUBLIC ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS SHALL BEGIN TEACHING
THE MODEL ENVIRONMENTAL CURRICULUM ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION
IN THE FIRST SCHOOL YEAR FOLLOWING CERTIFICATION BY THE COMMISSIONER
THAT SUCH CURRICULUM HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED.
4. A. THE COMMISSIONER SHALL DEVELOP AGE-APPROPRIATE CURRICULUM
RESOURCES AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR SCHOOLS TO PROVIDE TO STUDENTS IN
ALL ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS TO CARRYOUT THE PROVISIONS OF THIS
SECTION.
B. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL MAKE THE MODEL CURRICULUM AND MODEL CURRICULUM
RESOURCES PUBLICLY AVAILABLE ELECTRONICALLY ON THE DEPARTMENT'S INTERNET
WEBSITE.
5. SCHOOL AUTHORITIES SHALL PROVIDE THE NEEDED FACILITIES, TIME AND
PLACE FOR THE INSTRUCTION SET FORTH IN THIS SECTION AND SHALL PROVIDE
LEARNING AIDS AND CURRICULUM RESOURCE MATERIALS WHICH CONTRIBUTE TO
EFFECTIVE TEACHING METHODS AND LEARNING IN EDUCATION IN REGARDS TO THE
MODEL ENVIRONMENTAL CURRICULUM.
6. A. THE COMMISSIONER SHALL UPDATE THE MODEL ENVIRONMENTAL CURRICULUM
EVERY FOUR YEARS FOLLOWING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF SUCH CURRICULUM.
B. SUCH UPDATE SHALL BE BASED ON CURRENT SCIENTIFIC, TECHNICAL AND
SOCIAL KNOWLEDGE.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the first of July next succeeding
the date on which it shall have become a law.