S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
5770
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
I N S E N A T E
May 14, 2019
___________
Introduced by Sen. METZGER -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to adding arts and music
education into the curriculum for public school students
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Legislative intent. The legislature hereby finds that arts
and music education exposure has developmental benefits to children and
adolescents, and is an essential component to providing a well-rounded
education to all of the state of New York's public school students. Past
studies have shown that arts and music education has a significant posi-
tive impact on all students, including traditionally underserved
students. It is the legislature's intent to ensure that arts and music
education shall be incorporated into the public school curriculum.
§ 2. Subparagraphs 1 and 2 of paragraph a of subdivision 3 of section
3204 of the education law, subparagraph 1 as amended by chapter 14 of
the laws of 1958 and subparagraph 2 as amended by chapter 124 of the
laws of 1951, are amended to read as follows:
(1) The course of study for the first eight years of full time public
day schools shall provide for instruction in at least the [twelve] THIR-
TEEN common school branches of arithmetic, reading, spelling, writing,
the English language, geography, United States history, civics, hygiene,
ARTS AND MUSIC, physical training, the history of New York state and
science.
(2) The courses of study and of specialized training beyond the first
eight years of full time public day schools shall provide for instruc-
tion in at least the English language and its use, in civics, hygiene,
physical training, ARTS AND MUSIC, and American history including the
principles of government proclaimed in the Declaration of Independence
and established by the constitution of the United States.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.