Three bills aimed at supporting climate change education have been introduced in the New York state legislature in January 2023 so far.
Assembly Bill 851 would, if enacted, require the state commissioner of education to "create and establish a comprehensive and accurate climate change and sustainability curriculum which shall be taught in grades kindergarten through twelve in all public and charter schools." The bill is identical to Assembly Bill 3468 from the 2021-2022 legislative session, which died in committee. The bill was introduced by Linda B. Rosenthal (D-District 67) and referred to the House Committee on Education.
Senate Bill 278 would, if enacted, require the state commissioner of education to "establish a model environmental curriculum on climate change to be taught in all public elementary and secondary schools," to be included in the standards of instruction for not only science but also history, social studies, health, and mathematics. The bill is identical to Senate Bill 1081 from the 2021-2022 legislative session, which died in committee. The bill was introduced by Andrew Gounardes (D-District 26) and referred to the Senate Committee on Education.
Senate Bill 287 would, if enacted, require the state commissioner of education to "make recommendations to the board of regents relating to adjusting curricula for social studies, economics, geography, and government classes in New York schools to include requirements for climate change education." The bill is identical to Senate Bill 4781 from the 2021-2022 legislative session, which died in committee. The bill was introduced by Rachel May (D and Working Families-District 53) and referred to the Senate Committee on Education.
When the 2021-2022 session of the New York legislature ended, no fewer than eight climate change education bills died in committee, as NCSE previously reported.
