S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
4876
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
February 7, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. SIMON, COLTON, GONZALEZ-ROJAS, DE LOS SANTOS,
R. CARROLL, ROSENTHAL, LUNSFORD, MAMDANI, BICHOTTE HERMELYN, SIMONE,
SHRESTHA, TAYLOR, GALLAGHER, DINOWITZ, BURDICK, WEPRIN, ALVAREZ, DAVI-
LA, CHANDLER-WATERMAN, CUNNINGHAM, SHIMSKY, REYES, KELLES, TAPIA,
BURKE, ROZIC, STECK, RAGA -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. COOK,
SAYEGH, SEAWRIGHT -- read once and referred to the Committee on Educa-
tion
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to interdisciplinary
instruction on climate change
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 819 to
read as follows:
§ 819. INSTRUCTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE. 1. SUBJECT TO APPROPRIATION,
BEGINNING WITH THE TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-SIX--TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-SEVEN
SCHOOL YEAR, EVERY PUBLIC SCHOOL SHALL PROVIDE INSTRUCTION ON CLIMATE
CHANGE AND SUCH INSTRUCTION MAY BE PROVIDED THROUGH INTERDISCIPLINARY
INSTRUCTION, WHERE APPROPRIATE. SUCH INSTRUCTION SHALL INCLUDE, BUT NOT
BE LIMITED TO, IDENTIFYING THE CAUSES AND IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON
INDIVIDUALS, ENVIRONMENTS AND COMMUNITIES, AND LEARNING TO EVALUATE
SOLUTIONS. SUCH INSTRUCTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE SHALL BE IN ALIGNMENT WITH
STATE LEARNING STANDARDS, AS APPROPRIATE.
2. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL, SUBJECT TO APPROPRIATION, PREPARE AND MAKE
AVAILABLE GUIDANCE AND RESOURCES FOR EDUCATORS INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMIT-
ED TO, SUPPORTS FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO OFFER PROFESSIONAL LEARNING
OPPORTUNITIES, THAT MAY BE USED TO ASSIST SUCH EDUCATORS IN MEETING THE
REQUIREMENTS OF THIS SECTION. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ALSO, SUBJECT TO
APPROPRIATION, PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS AS SUCH
SCHOOL DISTRICTS TRANSITION THEIR OPERATIONS, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED
TO FACILITIES AND TRANSPORTATION, TO MORE ENERGY EFFICIENT AND CLIMATE
FRIENDLY APPROACHES.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
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