- See also: K-12 education content standards in the states
This page features information about K-12 areas of instruction required by state statute in New York public schools.
Background
- See also: K-12 education content standards in the states and K-12 curriculum authority, requirements, and statutes in the states
State education officials may develop content standards and curricula, depending on the state, in order to facilitate instruction in public schools. In some states, lawmakers also adopt required areas of instruction by statute.
K-12 content standards and curriculum development
State or local education officials may develop K-12 curricula for classroom instruction that generally includes lessons and materials used in a particular course of study.[1] Depending on the state, K-12 curricula may reflect or incorporate state content standards—educational learning and achievement goals that state education officials either require or recommend that local schools satisfy in K-12 instruction.
Areas of instruction required by statute
Some state laws require the inclusion of specific areas of instruction in K-12 public school curricula. In these cases, lawmakers—rather than state education officials—mandate certain education requirements for students. Laws governing specific areas of instruction in K-12 curricula vary by state.
Statutorily required areas of instruction in New York
The following table provides information about selected areas of instruction required by statute in New York, as of 2023. The statutes provided may not be comprehensive. The statutory text is provided below the table.
New York Education Laws § 801 (2022):
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Courses of Instruction in Patriotism and Citizenship and in Certain Historic Documents.
Courses of instruction in patriotism and citizenship and in certain historic documents. 1. In order to promote a spirit of patriotic and civic service and obligation and to foster in the children of the state moral and intellectual qualities which are essential in preparing to meet the obligations of citizenship in peace or in war, the regents of The University of the State of New York shall prescribe courses of instruction in patriotism, citizenship, civic education and values, our shared history of diversity, the role of religious tolerance in this country, and human rights issues, with particular attention to the study of the inhumanity of genocide, slavery (including the freedom trail and underground railroad), the Holocaust, and the mass starvation in Ireland from 1845 to 1850, to be maintained and followed in all the schools of the state. The boards of education and trustees of the several cities and school districts of the state shall require instruction to be given in such courses, by the teachers employed in the schools therein. All pupils attending such schools, over the age of eight years, shall attend upon such instruction...[2]
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New York Education Laws § 801-A (2022):
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Instruction in Civility, Citizenship and Character Education.
Instruction in civility, citizenship and character education. The regents shall ensure that the course of instruction in grades kindergarten through twelve includes a component on civility, citizenship and character education. Such component shall instruct students on the principles of honesty, tolerance, personal responsibility, respect for others, with an emphasis on discouraging acts of harassment, bullying, discrimination, observance of laws and rules, courtesy, dignity and other traits which will enhance the quality of their experiences in, and contributions to, the community. Such component shall include instruction of safe, responsible use of the internet and electronic communications. The regents shall determine how to incorporate such component in existing curricula and the commissioner shall promulgate any regulations needed to carry out such determination of the regents. For the purposes of this section, "tolerance," "respect for others" and "dignity" shall include awareness and sensitivity to harassment, bullying, discrimination and civility in the relations of people of different races, weights, national origins, ethnic groups, religions, religious practices, mental or physical abilities, sexual orientations, genders, and sexes.[2]
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New York Education Laws § 802 (2022):
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Instruction Relating to the Flag; Holidays.
1. It shall be the duty of the commissioner to prepare, for the use of the public schools of the state, a program providing for a salute to the flag and a daily pledge of allegiance to the flag, and instruction in its correct use and display which shall include, as a minimum, specific instruction regarding respect for the flag of the United States of America, its display and use as provided by federal statute and regulation and such other patriotic exercises as may be deemed by him to be expedient, under such regulations and instructions as may best meet the varied requirements of the different grades in such schools. However, such instruction shall include, as a minimum, the provisions of sections one hundred seventy through one hundred seventy-seven of title thirty-six of the United States Code...[2]
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New York Education Laws § 802-A (2022):
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Instruction Relating to General Elections.
Instruction relating to general elections. Every school and teacher or instructor shall utilize a sample or facsimile ballot, provided by the appropriate board of elections pursuant to section 7-118 of the election law, when providing instruction in the electoral process relating to an ongoing general election, for which a sample or facsimile ballot has been created, or when holding mock elections.[2]
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New York Education Laws § 803 (2022):
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Instruction in Physical Education and Kindred Subjects.
1. All pupils above the age of eight years in all elementary and secondary schools, shall receive as part of the prescribed courses of instruction therein such physical education under the direction of the commissioner of education as the regents may determine. Such courses shall be designed to aid in the well-rounded education of pupils and in the development of character, citizenship, physical fitness, health and the worthy use of leisure. Pupils above such age attending the public schools shall be required to attend upon such prescribed courses of instruction...[2]
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New York Education Laws § 803-A (2022):
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Courses of Study in Prevention of Child Abduction.
1. All pupils in grades K-8 in all public schools in the state shall receive instruction designed to prevent the abduction of children. Such instruction shall be provided by or under the direct supervision of regular classroom teachers, provided, however, that such instruction may be provided by any other agency, public or private...[2]
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New York Education Laws § 803-B (2022):
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Courses of Study in Prevention of Child Sexual Exploitation and Child Sex Abuse.
Courses of study in prevention of child sexual exploitation and child sexual abuse. 1. All pupils in grades K-8 in all public schools in the state shall receive instruction designed to prevent child sexual exploitation and child sexual abuse. Such program shall be defined by the commissioner in regulations after consultation with the department of health and be designed to educate students, parents and school personnel about the prevention of child sexual exploitation and child sexual abuse in grades kindergarten through eight. Such program shall include, but not be limited to students and parents. Nothing in this section shall prevent the department from making model curriculum and resource materials available on the department's website...[2]
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New York Education Laws § 804 (2022):
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Health Education Regarding Mental Health, Alcohol, Drugs, Tobacco Abuse and the Prevention and Detection of Certain Cancers.
2. All schools shall include, as an integral part of health education, instruction so as to discourage the misuse and abuse of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs and promote attitudes and behavior that enhance health, well being, and human dignity...[2]
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New York Education Laws § 804-D (2022):
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Automated External Defibrillator Instruction.
Instructions regarding the correct use of an automated external defibrillator shall be included as a part of the health education curriculum in all senior high schools when cardiopulmonary resuscitation instruction is being provided as authorized by section eight hundred four-c of this article. In addition to the requirement that all teachers of health education shall be certified to teach health, persons instructing pupils in the correct use of automated external defibrillators shall possess valid certification by a nationally recognized organization or the state emergency medical services council offering certification in the operation of an automated external defibrillator and in its instruction.[2]
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New York Education Laws § 806 (2022):
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Courses of Instruction in Highway Safety and Traffic Regulation; School Safety Patrols.
1. The regents of The University of the State of New York shall prescribe courses of instruction in highway safety and traffic regulation which shall include bicycle safety, to be maintained and followed in all the schools of the state. The boards of education and trustees of the several cities and school districts of the state shall require instruction to be given in such courses, by the teachers employed in the schools therein. All pupils attending such schools shall attend upon such instruction.[2]
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New York Education Laws § 806-A (2022):
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Driver Education.
1. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, all school districts providing instruction in driver education shall include in such instruction: (a) a driver safety component with an emphasis on the effects of alcohol and drug use, (b) instruction in motorcycle safety awareness. The commissioner, upon approval by the commissioner of motor vehicles, shall establish a curriculum for the alcohol and drug education component which shall include but not be limited to: instruction describing the hazards of driving while impaired or intoxicated; the penalties for alcohol related motor vehicle violations including sanctions set forth in the penal law that apply to homicides and assaults arising out of the operation of a motor vehicle while intoxicated and those sanctions set forth in the vehicle and traffic law relating to driving while intoxicated; and the medical, biological and physiological effects of the consumption of alcohol and their impact on the operation of a motor vehicle...[2]
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New York Education Laws § 808 (2022):
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Instruction in Fire and Arson Prevention.
1. The commissioner is hereby directed to provide and prescribe a course of instruction in fire and arson prevention, injury prevention and life safety education relating to the protection against injury or death and protection of property against loss or damage as a result of criminally initiated or other preventable fire, for use in the schools of the state, as prescribed by this section. Such course of instruction shall include materials to educate children on the dangers of falsely reporting a criminal incident, an impending explosion or fire emergency involving danger to life or property, an impending catastrophe, or a life safety emergency...[2]
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New York Education Laws § 809 (2022):
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Instruction in the Humane Treatment of Animals.
1. The officer, board or commission authorized or required to prescribe courses of instruction shall cause instruction to be given in every elementary school under state control or supported wholly or partly by public money of the state, in the humane treatment and protection of animals and the importance of the part they play in the economy of nature as well as the necessity of controlling the proliferation of animals which are subsequently abandoned and caused to suffer extreme cruelty. Such instruction shall be for such period of time during each school year as the board of regents may prescribe and may be joined with work in literature, reading, language, nature study or ethnology. Such weekly instruction may be divided into two or more periods. A school district shall not be entitled to participate in the public school money on account of any school or the attendance at any school subject to the provisions of this section, if the instruction required hereby is not given therein...[2]
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New York Education Laws § 809-A (2022):
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Instruction in the Safe Use of Firearms and in the Game Laws.
Instruction in the safe use of firearms and in the game laws. The officer, board, or commission authorized or required to prescribe courses of instructions in any school under state control, may authorize instructions to be given in the safe and proper use of firearms allowed by law to be used in the taking of wild game, and may also authorize instructions to be given in the study of game laws and of proper hunting and conservation practices. Such courses of instruction shall be approved by both the education department and the department of environmental conservation.[2]
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New York Education Laws § 814 (2022):
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Courses of Study in Internet Safety.
1. Any school district in the state may provide, to pupils in grades kindergarten through twelve, instruction designed to promote the proper and safe use of the internet...[2]
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See also
External links
