Directs the commissioner of education, in consultation with the board of regents, to establish and develop a curriculum on healthy relationship building skills; provides that such curriculum shall be by grades and focus on different issues and understandings of healthy relationships.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
10167
IN ASSEMBLY
February 12, 2026
___________
Introduced by M. of A. DE LOS SANTOS -- read once and referred to the
Committee on Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to establishing a curric-
ulum on healthy relationships building skills
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The education law is amended by adding a new section 804-e
2 to read as follows:
3 § 804-e. Instruction in healthy relationships. 1. The commissioner, in
4 consultation with the board of regents, is authorized and directed to
5 establish and develop a curriculum by ages and grades on healthy
6 relationship building skills.
7 2. Kindergarten, first and second grades shall focus on the founda-
8 tions of friendship and emotions, including, but not limited to: recog-
9 nizing emotions in self and others; respecting personal space; learning
10 empathy and kindness; and understanding basic concepts of friendship and
11 family relationships.
12 3. Third, fourth and fifth grades shall focus on the foundations of
13 trust, respect and conflict resolution, including, but not limited to:
14 building trust and managing conflicts with peers; practicing active
15 listening and communication; understanding personal boundaries and
16 differences; and early signs of bullying and unhealthy peer dynamics.
17 4. Sixth, seventh and eighth grades shall focus on emotional regu-
18 lation and early romantic relationships, including, but not limited to:
19 navigating peer pressure and social media interactions; understanding
20 consent and mutual respect; and identifying healthy vs. unhealthy behav-
21 iors in friendships and romantic relationships.
22 5. Ninth, tenth, eleventh and twelfth grades shall focus on intimacy,
23 consent and power dynamics, including, but not limited to: in-depth
24 education on consent, sexual boundaries, and bystander intervention;
25 recognizing manipulation, coercion, and abuse; understanding gender
26 roles, stereotypes, and power in relationships; and building long-term
27 communication and trust in partnerships.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD13392-01-5
A. 10167 2
1 6. Parents may review materials and opt their child out of specific
2 content related to romantic relationships or sexual consent. Curriculum
3 based on general emotional intelligence and communication lessons are
4 mandatory and may not be waived.
5 § 2. This act shall take effect on the first of July next succeeding
6 the date on which it shall have become a law.
