BILL NUMBER: S2389
SPONSOR: FELDER
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the education law, in relation to including the attacks
on September 11, 2001 in courses of instruction in patriotism and citi-
zenship
 
PURPOSE:
This bill would ensure that current and future generations of New York
State school children are appropriately educated on the attacks of
September 11th, 2001.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
This bill would amend Section 801 of the Education Law to add the
attacks on American soil on September 11, 2001 to the list of courses
for instruction in patriotism and citizenship in New York schools.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
On September 11, 2001, America suffered a terrorist attack on its soil
resulting in the loss of over 3,000 American lives. The resulting devas-
tation of the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in downtown Manhat-
tan, to the Pentagon in Washington D.C. and the crash of United Airlines
Flight 93 in Pennsylvania, left an indelible mark on American and world
society and history.
The tragedy of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 is not
required teaching in New York schools. The magnitude of the event on
Americans and New Yorkers demands that it should be a Part of our
schools' core curriculum and taught at an age appropriate level as
determined by State Education Department guidelines.
Such guidelines exist in current Social Studies Standards in the State
Education Department's Global History and Geography Online Resource
incorporate turning point lessons, defined as a decisive moment or an
event marking a unique or important historical change of course that
includes a lesson plan on September 11th.
This legislation gives appropriate weight to the importance of this
critical moment in history and ensures that current and future gener-
ations of New York students will all be instructed on the events of that
day, by requiring that all schools dedicate appropriate time and
resources to teaching the events of that forever changed America and the
world.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2015/16:S.289 - Referred to Education
2017/18:S.1106 - Referred to Education
2019/20:S.350 - Referred to Education
2021/22:S.3696 - Referred to Education
2023/24:S.2357 - Referred to Education
 
BUDGET IMPLICATIONS:
None noted.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act would take effect immediately.