The New York State Senate

 
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                  7260--A
 
                        2021-2022 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                              April 29, 2021
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by M. of A. KIM, BRAUNSTEIN -- read once and referred to the
   Committee on Education -- committee discharged, bill amended,  ordered
   reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
 
 AN  ACT  to  amend  the  education  law, in relation to requiring public
   elementary schools and high schools to provide  instruction  in  Asian
   American history and civil impact
 
   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. COURSES OF STUDY IN ASIAN AMERICAN HISTORY AND CIVIC IMPACT.
 1. THE BOARD OF REGENTS IS AUTHORIZED  AND  DIRECTED  TO  ESTABLISH  AND
 DEVELOP  A COURSE OF STUDY IN THE EVENTS OF ASIAN AMERICAN HISTORY. SUCH
 COURSE OF STUDY SHALL BE REQUIRED FOR ALL STUDENTS IN PUBLIC  ELEMENTARY
 SCHOOL  AND  HIGH  SCHOOL  AND MAY BE INCLUDED AS PART OF THE HISTORY OR
 SOCIAL STUDIES CURRICULUM OF SUCH SCHOOLS. INSTRUCTION SHALL BE PROVIDED
 BY THE TEACHERS EMPLOYED IN THE SCHOOLS THEREIN. SUCH INSTRUCTION  SHALL
 INCLUDE, BUT SHALL NOT BE LIMITED TO, INSTRUCTION IN THE FOLLOWING:
   A. THE HISTORY OF ASIAN AMERICANS IN NEW YORK AND THE NORTHEAST;
   B.  THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF ASIAN AMERICANS TOWARD ADVANCING CIVIL RIGHTS
 FROM THE NINETEENTH CENTURY ONWARD;
   C. THE CONTRIBUTIONS MADE BY INDIVIDUAL ASIAN AMERICANS IN  GOVERNMENT
 AND THE ARTS, HUMANITIES AND SCIENCES; AND
   D.  THE  CONTRIBUTIONS  OF ASIAN AMERICAN COMMUNITIES TO THE ECONOMIC,
 CULTURAL, SOCIAL AND POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE UNITED STATES.
   2. THE COMMISSIONER, SHALL PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO  ASSIST  IN
 THE  DEVELOPMENT  OF  CURRICULA FOR SUCH COURSES OF STUDY WHICH SHALL BE
 AGE APPROPRIATE AND DEVELOPED ACCORDING TO THE NEEDS  AND  ABILITIES  OF
 STUDENTS  AT  SUCCESSIVE GRADE LEVELS IN ORDER TO PROVIDE UNDERSTANDING,
 AWARENESS, SKILLS, INFORMATION AND SUPPORT TO AID IN  THE  KNOWLEDGE  OF
 ASIAN AMERICAN HISTORY AND CIVIC IMPACT.
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.

                                                            LBD11024-04-1

 A. 7260--A                          2
 
   3.  THE  REGENTS  SHALL  ADOPT  RULES PROVIDING FOR ATTENDANCE OF SUCH
 COURSES OF STUDY AND FOR SUCH OTHER MATTERS AS ARE REQUIRED FOR EFFECTU-
 ATING THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION. THE COMMISSIONER SHALL BE  RESPONSI-
 BLE  FOR THE ENFORCEMENT OF SUCH SECTION AND SHALL CAUSE TO BE INSPECTED
 AND  SUPERVISE THE INSTRUCTION TO BE GIVEN. THE COMMISSIONER MAY, IN HIS
 OR HER DISCRETION, CAUSE ALL OR A PORTION OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOL MONEY  TO
 BE  APPORTIONED  TO A DISTRICT OR CITY TO BE WITHHELD FOR NON-COMPLIANCE
 WITH THE RULES OF THE REGENTS ADOPTED AS HEREIN PROVIDED AND  TO  COMPEL
 ATTENDANCE IN SUCH INSTRUCTION, AS HEREIN PRESCRIBED.
   4.  THE COMMISSIONER SHALL MAKE AVAILABLE TO ALL PUBLIC ELEMENTARY AND
 HIGH SCHOOLS IN THE STATE SUITABLE CURRICULUM MATERIALS TO  AID  IN  THE
 INSTRUCTION  OF  STUDENTS IN ASIAN AMERICAN HISTORY AND CIVIC IMPACT AND
 SHALL PROMULGATE RULES AND REGULATIONS GOVERNING SUCH COURSES OF STUDY.
   5. COMPLETION OF SUCH COURSES OF STUDY SHALL CONSTITUTE AN AFFIRMATION
 BY STUDENTS OF THEIR COMMITMENT TO RESPECT THE DIGNITY OF ALL RACES  AND
 PEOPLES  AND  TO  FOREVER  ESCHEW  EVERY FORM OF DISCRIMINATION IN THEIR
 LIVES AND CAREERS.
   6. A SCHOOL MAY MEET THE  REQUIREMENTS  OF  THIS  SECTION  THROUGH  AN
 ONLINE COURSE OR PROGRAM.
   §  2.  This act shall take effect on the first of July next succeeding
 the date on which it shall have become a law.