NY Educ L § 801 (2021)
2021 New York Laws EDN - Education Title 1 - General Provisions Article 17 - Instruction in Certain Subjects 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.