ASSEMBLY STANDING COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION
ASSEMBLY STANDING COMMITTEE ON HEALTH
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
NEW YORK CITY
Thursday, February 5, 2004
9:00 a.m.
Assembly Hearing Room 1923, 19th Floor
250 Broadway, New York, New York *
* Please be advised that building policies require visitors to present photo identification in order to be admitted to the building.
The students in the New York City School District are required under State Law to receive instruction regarding health education, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)/ Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and the misuse and abuse of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs. The Chancellor's Regulations require students in certain grades to be taught the "Family Living, including Sex Education" (FL/SE) curriculum. Students in urban areas, as well as those in smaller communities, are confronted with an array of health and other problems, such as poor physical condition, obesity, substance abuse and low self-esteem, that are preventable through proper health education. Quality health education should be provided to all students. A well informed student population will experience a healthier life and may experience greater academic success.
A report released in June 2003 by Assemblymember Scott Stringer, "Failing Grade: Health Education In New York City Schools," concluded that staff responsible for implementing the health education curriculum were overwhelmingly unaware of the State and City health education curriculum requirements and unable to comply with them. The report also noted that some of the health education curricula used in schools has not been updated in recent times, that there is inadequate oversight of these programs, and that teachers receive minimal training.
The Committee on Education wishes to provide a public forum for students, educators, parents and other interested stakeholders to express their concerns and recommendations on reforming health education at the state and city level. Discussions on this important issue should begin as soon as possible to assess the adequacy of state health education mandates and to inform the New York City Department of Education, which is currently in the process of drafting new regulations, of the needs of students when it comes to health education. The focus of the hearing will be on updating the curricula, teacher training and proper oversight of these education programs.
Persons wishing to present pertinent testimony to the Committee at the above hearings should complete and return the enclosed reply form as soon as possible. It is important that the reply form be fully completed and returned so that persons may be notified in the event of emergency postponement or cancellation.
Oral testimony will be limited to 10 minutes' duration. In preparing the order of witnesses, the Committee will attempt to accommodate individual requests to speak at particular times in view of special circumstances. These requests should be made on the attached reply form or communicated to Committee staff as early as possible.
Ten copies of any prepared testimony should be submitted at the hearing registration desk. The Committee would appreciate advance receipt of prepared statements.
In order to further publicize these hearings, please inform interested parties and organizations of the Committee's interest in hearing testimony from all sources.
Written testimony will also be accepted for those who are not able to present oral testimony at the New York City or Albany hearing. A copy of the written testimony may be mailed to Courtney Hayden, Assembly Standing Committee on Education, Capitol, Room 513, Albany, NY 12248 or faxed to (518) 455-4128.
In order to meet the needs of those who may have a disability, the Assembly, in accordance with its policy of non-discrimination on the basis of disability, as well as the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), has made its facilities and services available to all individuals with disabilities. For individuals with disabilities, accommodations will be provided, upon reasonable request, to afford such individuals access and admission to Assembly facilities and activities.
Steven Sanders, Member of Assembly
Chairman, Assembly Standing Committee on Education
Richard N. Gottfried, Member of Assembly
Chairman, Assembly Standing Committee on Health
