Requires health instruction to include age-appropriate instruction on dating violence prevention and healthy relationships for students in grades seven through twelve.
Summary
This bill would direct the Commissioner of Education to develop recommendations for the Board of Regents on adding age-appropriate instruction on dating violence prevention and healthy relationships to the annual curriculum framework for students in grades 7 through 12. The instruction would be incorporated across subject areas, including health, rather than being limited to a single course.
Before making recommendations, the commissioner must consult teachers, school administrators, teacher educators, parents, students, and other interested parties, and must consider instructional time, possible effects on other required coursework, and any fiscal impacts on the state and school districts. The Board of Regents would then have 60 days to vote on whether to adopt or reject the recommendation, and if adopted, the curriculum would take effect no later than the next school year. If rejected, the commissioner must report the reasons to state leaders and education committee chairs.
Impact
The bill amends the Education Law by adding a new subdivision to section 305, creating a formal process for considering statewide instruction on dating violence prevention and healthy relationships in grades 7-12. It does not itself mandate immediate curriculum changes, but it establishes a pathway for the Board of Regents to adopt rules and regulations implementing such instruction, which would affect school curricula, district planning, and potentially teacher training and instructional materials across New York.
Sentiment
Based on the bill text and the absence of recorded committee debate or votes in the provided materials, the measure appears to be framed as a preventive student-safety and health-education initiative with a consultative, incremental implementation process. The structure of the bill suggests an effort to build consensus by requiring stakeholder input and by allowing the Regents to accept or reject the recommendation after review.
Contention
The main points of potential contention are likely to be curriculum time, local control, and fiscal impact. The bill explicitly requires the commissioner to consider whether the new instruction would detract from other mandated courses of study and what costs it might impose on the state and school districts. Parents, educators, and school administrators are identified as stakeholders to be consulted, indicating that concerns may arise over age appropriateness, instructional priorities, and how broadly the content should be integrated into existing classes.
Requires the commissioner of education to make recommendations to the board of regents relating to the adoption of age-appropriate instruction on dating violence prevention and healthy relationships for students in grades seven through twelve.
A bill for an act relating to social studies instruction, including instruction in United States government, provided to students enrolled in grades nine through twelve.
A bill for an act relating to social studies instruction provided to students enrolled in grades seven through twelve, and including applicability provisions.(See SF 2413.)
A bill for an act relating to social studies instruction, including instruction in United States government, provided to students enrolled in grades nine through twelve.(See HF 520.)
A bill for an act relating to social studies instruction provided to students enrolled in grades seven through twelve, and including applicability provisions. (Formerly HSB 594.)
Requires climate change instruction within the current established science curriculum; requires such instruction be taught in grades one through twelve.
Establishes the healthy and safe students act; requires comprehensive sexuality instruction for students in grades K-12 which includes a model curricula for comprehensive sexuality education and at a minimum conforms to the content and scope of national sexuality education standards.
Establishes the healthy and safe students act; requires comprehensive sexuality instruction for students in grades K-12 which includes a model curricula for comprehensive sexuality education and at a minimum conforms to the content and scope of national sexuality education standards.