Includes the attacks on September 11, 2001 in courses of instruction in patriotism and citizenship
This bill amends section 801 of the New York Education Law to require that instruction in patriotism, citizenship, civic education, and values expressly include the attacks on September 11, 2001. The existing statutory list of topics already includes shared history, religious tolerance, human rights, genocide, slavery, the Holocaust, and the mass starvation in Ireland from 1845 to 1850; the bill adds September 11 to that list of subjects that the Regents must prescribe for instruction in all schools of the state.
The bill also makes conforming language changes in the same section to reflect the added topic and to update wording around the commissioner’s authority. It does not create a new program or separate mandate, but it expands the required content of an existing statewide instructional framework. Schools would still be required to provide the instruction, and students over age eight would still be required to attend, under the current structure of the law.
If enacted, the bill would amend state education law to broaden the required curriculum for patriotism and citizenship instruction by adding the September 11 attacks as a specific topic for study. The Regents would need to include this subject in prescribed courses, and school districts would remain responsible for delivering the instruction to pupils over age eight. The commissioner’s existing enforcement authority, including the ability to withhold some public school funds for noncompliance, would continue to apply to the expanded curriculum requirement.
Based on the bill text and available context, the measure appears to be presented as a straightforward educational update rather than a controversial overhaul. There are no recorded committee transcripts or votes showing opposition or support, and the bill was introduced and referred to the Assembly Committee on Education. The overall tone of the proposal suggests a commemorative and instructional purpose, aimed at ensuring September 11 is covered within civic and historical education.
The main point of potential contention is whether adding September 11 to the mandated curriculum is the appropriate scope for state-required instruction in patriotism and citizenship, and how much discretion local educators should have in selecting and framing such topics. Some may view the addition as an important civic and historical inclusion, while others could question whether the statute should continue to expand by enumerating specific events. No explicit objections, amendments, or recorded debate are available in the provided materials.