Bill > A04154

This bill amends the New York State Education Law to include Staten Island's Sandy Ground community, recognized as the oldest continuously inhabited free Black settlement in the United States, in the state's educational curriculum. Specifically, the bill modifies existing requirements for school instruction by adding Sandy Ground to the list of topics that students will learn about in courses focusing on patriotism, citizenship, civic education, diversity, and human rights. The bill mandates that schools for children over eight years old must provide instruction on this historical community, alongside other important historical topics like slavery, the Holocaust, and religious tolerance. The amendment requires the State University of New York's Board of Regents to develop specific curriculum guidelines for teaching about Sandy Ground, ensuring that students learn about this significant historically Black community. The changes will take effect on the first of July following the bill's passage, and the Commissioner of Education will be responsible for overseeing the implementation of these new educational requirements.

Education

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A4154