Mandatory climate change education bill introduced in New York

Senate Bill 7341, introduced by Andrew Gounardes (D-District 22) in the New York Senate on January 21, 2020, and referred to the Senate Committee on Education, would, if enacted, require the establishment of "a model environmental curriculum on climate change to be taught in all public elementary and secondary schools." The curriculum would be developed by the state department of education, which would also "develop age-appropriate curriculum resources and technical assistance" to help schools implement it.

SB 7341 is not the only climate change education bill active in New York. Senate Bill 6387 would, if enacted, establish a climate change education grant program "to award grants to eligible applicants to support climate change education grant programs for young people or to provide optional teacher training or professional development programs relevant to the advance of climate change literacy in young people," as NCSE previously reported. SB 6387 is presently with the Senate Energy and Telecommunications Committee.

Glenn Branch
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Glenn Branch is Deputy Director of NCSE.

branch@ncse.ngo