Requires instruction on the January 6th insurrection at the U.S. capitol and its aftermath in all schools in the state.
Summary
This bill amends the New York Education Law to add the January 6, 2021 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol and its aftermath to the list of topics that must be included in instruction on patriotism, citizenship, civic education and values, shared history, religious tolerance, and human rights. The required instruction would apply in both public and private schools, and students over age eight would be required to attend. The bill also directs the Board of Regents to incorporate the topic into the subjects and grade levels covered by these courses.
The measure places January 6 alongside existing required instructional topics such as genocide, slavery, the Holocaust, the Irish famine, the Constitution, and the Declaration of Independence. It also updates statutory language to use gender-neutral references to the commissioner. The bill would take effect on July 1 after becoming law.
Impact
The bill would amend section 801 of the Education Law, expanding the state-mandated curriculum for civic and historical instruction in New York schools. It would require the Regents, school districts, and private schools to include instruction on the January 6 insurrection and its aftermath, and it would make compliance part of the state’s educational requirements, with potential withholding of school aid for noncompliance. The change would affect public schools, private schools seeking substantial equivalency, and the State Education Department’s oversight responsibilities.
Sentiment
Based on the bill text and caption, the measure appears to be framed as a civic-education requirement rather than a punitive or regulatory bill, and it is presented in a neutral educational tone. No committee transcripts or recorded votes were provided, so there is no documented debate or formal voting sentiment available in the supplied materials. The bill’s inclusion of January 6 among other major historical and human-rights topics suggests an intent to treat the event as part of civic instruction.
Contention
The likely point of contention is whether January 6 should be mandated as a required instructional topic in schools, and whether its inclusion is appropriate within the existing curriculum on patriotism, citizenship, and human rights. Supporters would likely argue that students should learn about the attack on the Capitol and its democratic significance, while opponents may view the mandate as politically charged or as an expansion of state control over curriculum. No specific stakeholder positions, committee objections, or recorded vote splits were provided in the materials.
Designating January 6, 2025, as "1/6 Day" in Pennsylvania to honor the law enforcement officers who defended our nation against the insurrection at the United States Capitol and the members of the Congress of the United States who proceeded to vote despite threats to their personal safety, on the four-year anniversary of the January 6, 2021, insurrection.
An Act to direct the Board of Education to consider, during its next regularly scheduled revision of the history and social science Standards of Learning and Curriculum Framework, the necessity of including in such Standards of Learning and Curriculum Framework additional instructional emphasis on recent, twenty-first century history and current events, including events on or related to the January 6, 2021, insurrection at the United States Capitol.