Establishes a model environmental curriculum in all public elementary and secondary schools which shall include various principles and concepts including environmental justice.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
2325
2021-2022 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 14, 2021
___________
Introduced by M. of A. SIMON -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. ABBATE,
COLTON, COOK, DICKENS, EPSTEIN, GALEF, GLICK, HEVESI, SAYEGH -- read
once and referred to the Committee on Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to establishing a model
environmental curriculum in all elementary and secondary schools
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 817 to
2 read as follows:
3 § 817. Model environmental curriculum. 1. The commissioner shall
4 promulgate rules and regulations to establish a model environmental
5 curriculum on climate change to be taught in all public elementary and
6 secondary schools. Such model environmental curriculum shall include,
7 but not be limited to, the principles and concepts related to the
8 following topics:
9 a. Air;
10 b. Climate change;
11 c. Energy;
12 d. Environmental justice;
13 e. Environmental sustainability;
14 f. Fish and wildlife resources;
15 g. Forestry;
16 h. Integrated pest management;
17 i. Oceans;
18 j. Pollution prevention;
19 k. Public health and the environment;
20 l. Resource conservation, waste reduction, and recycling;
21 m. Toxics and hazardous waste; and
22 n. Water.
23 2. The model environmental curriculum shall be aligned with other
24 course subject standards of instruction as set forth by the department
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01133-01-1
A. 2325 2
1 and be included in the following course subject's standards of instruc-
2 tion, but not be limited to:
3 a. Science;
4 b. History;
5 c. Social studies;
6 d. Health; and
7 e. Mathematics.
8 3. All public elementary and secondary schools shall begin teaching
9 the model environmental curriculum established pursuant to this section
10 in the first school year following certification by the commissioner
11 that such curriculum has been established.
12 4. a. The commissioner shall develop age-appropriate curriculum
13 resources and technical assistance for schools to provide to students in
14 all elementary and secondary schools to carryout the provisions of this
15 section.
16 b. The department shall make the model curriculum and model curriculum
17 resources publicly available electronically on the department's internet
18 website.
19 5. School authorities shall provide the needed facilities, time and
20 place for the instruction set forth in this section and shall provide
21 learning aids and curriculum resource materials which contribute to
22 effective teaching methods and learning in education in regards to the
23 model environmental curriculum.
24 6. a. The commissioner shall update the model environmental curriculum
25 every four years following the establishment of such curriculum.
26 b. Such update shall be based on current scientific, technical and
27 social knowledge.
28 § 2. This act shall take effect on the first of July next succeeding
29 the date on which it shall have become a law.
