Authorizes the commissioner of education to conduct a survey regarding instruction on Asian American, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islander history within the state; establishes an Asian American, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islander history advisory committee; provides for the repeal of such provisions upon the expiration thereof.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A8463E
SPONSOR: Lee TITLE OF BILL:
An act in relation to authorizing the commissioner of education to
conduct a survey regarding instruction on Asian American, Native Hawaii-
ans and Pacific Islander history within the state; to amend the educa-
tion law, in relation to establishing an Asian American, Native Hawaii-
ans and Pacific Islander history advisory committee; and providing for
the repeal of such provisions upon the expiration thereof
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
To assess how school districts across New York State are currently
teaching Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI)
history and to establish an expert advisory committee to guide the inte-
gration of AANHPI content into state education standards.
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Section 1 names the bill as the "New York AANHPI Education Equity Act"
Section 2 authorizes and directs the Commissioner of Education to
conduct a statewide survey of school districts to determine the extent
of instruction related to AANHPI history, including curriculum content,
grade levels, instructional time, and teacher training. Results and
recommendations from the survey must be submitted to the governor and
legislative leaders.
Section 3 adds a new section to the Education Law creating an AANHPI
history advisory committee to provide recommendations on K-12. curric-
ular and instructional resources on AANHPI history as well as strategies
for strengthening education programs regarding AANHPI history. A report
must be submitted within two years.
Section 4 provides the effective date; repeal.
JUSTIFICATION:
While New York is one of the most diverse states in the nation, includ-
ing a rapidly growing AANHPI population, our schools lack a consistent
and comprehensive approach to teaching AANHPI history. This gap in
education contributes to the continued marginalization of AANHPI commu-
nities and a broader ignorance of their civic and cultural contrib-
utions.
Understanding the current landscape of AANHPI instruction is a critical
first step. This bill provides for a statewide survey to collect data
directly from school districts on whether and how these topics are
taught. The findings will help identify challenges, gaps, and opportu-
nities for improvement.
Simultaneously, the creation of an AANHPI History Advisory Committee
will ensure that subject-matter experts are guiding the state's long-
term approach to incorporating these important histories into our
schools. This committee will recommend how AANHPI content can be mean-
ingfully embedded within New York's classrooms in a way that reflects
historical accuracy and cultural relevance. This legislation takes a
necessary first step toward addressing gaps in curriculum and ensuring
that students across New York have access to a more. accurate and inclu-
sive understanding of American history.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
This is a new bill.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
TBD
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire and be deemed
repealed three years after such effective date.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
8463--E
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
May 16, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. LEE, KIM, TAYLOR, BURDICK, GLICK, LEVENBERG,
COLTON, DE LOS SANTOS -- read once and referred to the Committee on
Education -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as
amended and recommitted to said committee -- reported and referred to
the Committee on Ways and Means -- committee discharged, bill amended,
ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee --
again reported from said committee with amendments, ordered reprinted
as amended and recommitted to said committee -- again reported from
said committee with amendments, ordered reprinted as amended and
recommitted to said committee -- again reported from said committee
with amendments, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said
committee
AN ACT in relation to authorizing the commissioner of education to
conduct a survey regarding instruction on Asian American, Native Hawa-
iians and Pacific Islander history within the state; to amend the
education law, in relation to establishing an Asian American, Native
Hawaiians and Pacific Islander history advisory committee; and provid-
ing for the repeal of such provisions upon the expiration thereof
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. This act shall be known as the "New York AANHPI Education
2 Equity Act".
3 § 2. (a) The commissioner of education is authorized and directed to
4 conduct a survey regarding instruction on Asian American, Native Hawaii-
5 ans and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) history within the state. Such survey
6 shall focus on identifying the extent to which school districts provide
7 instruction on Asian American, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islander
8 (AANHPI) history. Such survey shall include as appropriate, questions
9 on how the district is providing such instruction, including, but not
10 limited to, the following:
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD11851-15-5
A. 8463--E 2
1 (1) how the department's learning standards inform the school
2 district's teaching of AANHPI history;
3 (2) which grade levels are being taught about AANHPI history;
4 (3) how much instructional time is devoted to AANHPI history;
5 (4) what are the school district's social studies curricula that are
6 used in the district, and who publishes curricula;
7 (5) what challenges and/or barriers do districts face in incorporating
8 AANHPI history into the curriculum;
9 (6) do educators receive any training or professional development
10 regarding AANHPI history; and
11 (7) are there assessments or evaluations to measure student under-
12 standing of AANHPI history.
13 (b) Findings shall include detailed results of the survey, and if
14 needed, recommendations to implement or strengthen such instruction. A
15 report of the findings of such survey shall be delivered to the gover-
16 nor, the temporary president of the senate, the speaker of the assembly,
17 the minority leader of the senate and the minority leader of the assem-
18 bly the first of January following the effective date of this act or one
19 hundred twenty days after the effective date of this act, whichever is
20 later.
21 § 3. The education law is amended by adding a new section 805 to read
22 as follows:
23 § 805. Asian American, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islander history
24 advisory committee; appointment; powers and duties. 1. The commissioner
25 shall establish an Asian American, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islander
26 (AANHPI) history advisory committee.
27 2. (a) The committee shall be comprised of four members, to be
28 appointed as follows:
29 (i) one member appointed by the governor;
30 (ii) one member appointed by the temporary president of the senate;
31 (iii) one member appointed by the speaker of the assembly; and
32 (iv) one member appointed by the commissioner.
33 (b) All members appointed to the committee shall be experts in Asian
34 American, Native Hawaiians and/or Pacific Islander studies and/or have a
35 background in educational instruction and/or educational administration.
36 (c) All members of the committee shall be appointed within ninety days
37 of the effective date of this section.
38 3. Vacancies in the membership of the committee shall be filled in the
39 same manner provided for original appointments.
40 4. The committee shall meet no less than four times per year.
41 5. The committee shall provide recommendations on the following:
42 (a) high-quality K-12 curricular and instructional resources on AANHPI
43 history; and
44 (b) strategies for strengthening and deepening public K-12 education
45 programs in the areas of AANHPI history, including analysis of the
46 survey referenced in section two of the chapter of the laws of two thou-
47 sand twenty-five that added this section.
48 6. The committee shall submit their recommendations to the commission-
49 er no later than two years after the effective date of this section and
50 be disbanded thereafter.
51 7. Committee members shall receive no compensation for their services,
52 but shall be allowed their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the
53 performance of their duties.
54 8. To effectuate the purposes of this section, the committee may
55 request from any department, board, bureau, commission or other agency
56 of the state, and the same are authorized to provide, such cooperation
A. 8463--E 3
1 and assistance, services and data as will enable the committee to prop-
2 erly carry out its functions pursuant to this section.
3 § 4. This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire and be
4 deemed repealed 3 years after such date.
