Requires instruction in arts and music education to be incorporated into curriculums for all public school students; requires school districts to ensure that appropriately certified teachers are providing such education; authorizes rules and regulations consistent with such provisions.
STATE OF NEW YORK
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6318--A
Cal. No. 669
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
March 10, 2025
___________
Introduced by Sens. MAY, ADDABBO, ASHBY, BORRELLO, BROUK,
CANZONERI-FITZPATRICK, CLEARE, COMRIE, COONEY, GALLIVAN, HARCKHAM,
HELMING, HINCHEY, HOYLMAN-SIGAL, JACKSON, LANZA, MATTERA, MYRIE, OBER-
ACKER, PALUMBO, PERSAUD, ROLISON, SALAZAR, SCARCELLA-SPANTON, SERRANO,
SKOUFIS, STAVISKY, STEC, WEBER, WEIK -- read twice and ordered print-
ed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Education --
reported favorably from said committee, ordered to first and second
report, ordered to a third reading, amended and ordered reprinted,
retaining its place in the order of third reading
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to requiring instruction
in arts and music education to be incorporated into curriculums for
all public school students
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 819 to
2 read as follows:
3 § 819. Instruction in arts and music education. 1. The board of
4 regents shall establish and maintain standards for arts and music educa-
5 tion, which may include dance, music, theater, media arts, visual arts,
6 and studio arts, to be incorporated into the curriculum for students in
7 all public schools across the state. Rules and regulations related to
8 elementary and secondary education school programs shall be consistent
9 with the requirements of this subdivision.
10 2. Each school district shall ensure that instruction in arts and
11 music education, consistent with the standards established by the
12 regents pursuant to subdivision one of this section, is provided by
13 appropriately certified teachers, to the extent possible, in each such
14 school district. All students shall have equitable access to such
15 instruction, which shall be incorporated into the regular course of
16 study and consistent with state graduation requirements.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD10206-02-5
S. 6318--A 2
1 3. The commissioner of education, in consultation with the board of
2 regents, shall promulgate any rules or regulations necessary to imple-
3 ment the provisions of this section, ensuring that arts and music educa-
4 tion remains an integral and required part of the public school curric-
5 ulum for students in grades one through twelve.
6 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
