Bill > S06934

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. The bill requires the New York State Board of Regents to prescribe courses of instruction that include Sandy Ground as part of a broader curriculum focused on patriotism, citizenship, civic education, diversity, religious tolerance, and human rights. These courses will be mandatory for students over eight years old in both public and private schools, and will be integrated into existing sections of instruction that already cover topics like slavery, the Underground Railroad, the Holocaust, and other significant historical events. The bill also updates language to use gender-neutral terminology (changing "his" to "their") and will take effect on the first of July following its passage, ensuring that schools will be prepared to implement the new curriculum by the start of the next academic year.

Education

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S6934