N.Y. Education Law § 801: Courses of instruction in patriotism and citizenship and in certain historic documents

§ 801. 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.

Similar courses of instruction shall be prescribed and maintained in

private schools in the state, and all pupils in such schools over eight

years of age shall attend upon such courses. If such courses are not so

established and maintained in a private school, attendance upon

instruction in such school shall not be deemed substantially equivalent

to instruction given to pupils of like age in the public schools of the

city or district in which such pupils reside.

2. The regents shall prescribe courses of instruction in the history,

meaning, significance and effect of the provisions of the constitution

of the United States, the amendments thereto, the declaration of

independence, the constitution of the state of New York and the

amendments thereto, to be maintained and followed in all of 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, in the eighth and higher grades, shall

attend upon such instruction.

Similar courses of instruction shall be prescribed and maintained in

private schools in the state, and all pupils in such schools in grades

or classes corresponding to the instruction in the eighth and higher

grades of the public schools shall attend upon such courses. If such

courses are not so established and maintained in a private school,

attendance upon instruction in such school shall not be deemed

substantially equivalent to instruction given to pupils in the public

schools of the city or district in which such pupils reside.

3. The regents shall determine the subjects to be included in such

courses of instruction in patriotism, citizenship, civic education and

values, our shared history of diversity, the role of 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, and in the history, meaning, significance and effect of the

provisions of the constitution of the United States, the amendments

thereto, the declaration of independence, the constitution of the state

of New York and the amendments thereto, and the period of instruction in

each of the grades in such subjects. They shall adopt rules providing

for attendance upon such instruction and for such other matters as are

required for carrying into effect the objects and purposes of this

section. The commissioner shall be responsible for the enforcement of

such section and shall cause to be inspected and supervise the

instruction to be given in such subjects. The commissioner may, in his

discretion, cause all or a portion of the public school money to be

apportioned to a district or city to be withheld for failure of the

school authorities of such district or city to provide instruction in

such courses and to compel attendance upon such instruction, as herein

prescribed, and for a non-compliance with the rules of the regents

adopted as herein provided.

4. The regents shall designate a week during each year and prescribe a

uniform course of exercises in the public schools of the state suitable

for pupils of various ages to instill into the minds of such pupils the

purpose, meaning and importance of the bill of rights articles in the

federal and state constitutions. Such exercises shall be in addition to

any prescribed courses of study in the schools.

5. The regents shall make available to all elementary schools in the

state suitable curriculum materials to aid in the instruction of pupils

in grades kindergarten through six in the understanding and acceptance

of children with disabilities as defined in section forty-four hundred

one of this chapter.