S 2430: Requires that public schools provide instruction on climate change, including but not limited to identifying the causes and impacts of climate change on individuals, environments and communities, and learning to evaluate solutions.
The proposed law aims to provide instruction on climate change in public schools, starting with the 2026-2027 school year. Every public school must offer climate change education through interdisciplinary instruction, which should include learning about the causes and impacts of climate change and evaluating solutions. The instruction must align with state learning standards. The state education department will prepare guidance and resources for educators to help them meet the requirements. The department will also provide technical assistance to school districts as they transition to more energy-efficient and climate-friendly approaches. This law will take effect immediately, and its goal is to educate students about climate change and equip them with the knowledge to address this global issue.
| Jan. 07, 2026 | REFERRED TO EDUCATION |
| Jan. 17, 2025 | REFERRED TO EDUCATION |
STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 2430 2025-2026 Regular Sessions IN SENATE January 17, 2025 ___________ Introduced by Sens. GOUNARDES, ADDABBO, BRISPORT, CLEARE, GONZALEZ, HARCKHAM, HINCHEY, HOYLMAN-SIGAL, JACKSON, KAVANAGH, KRUEGER, LIU, MAY, MYRIE, RIVERA, SALAZAR, SANDERS, SEPULVEDA, SERRANO, WEBB -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Education AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to interdisciplinary instruction on climate change The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. The education law is amended by adding a new section 819 to 2 read as follows: 3 § 819. Instruction on climate change. 1. Subject to appropriation, 4 beginning with the two thousand twenty-six--two thousand twenty-seven 5 school year, every public school shall provide instruction on climate 6 change and such instruction may be provided through interdisciplinary 7 instruction, where appropriate. Such instruction shall include, but not 8 be limited to, identifying the causes and impacts of climate change on 9 individuals, environments and communities, and learning to evaluate 10 solutions. Such instruction on climate change shall be in alignment with 11 state learning standards, as appropriate. 12 2. The department shall, subject to appropriation, prepare and make 13 available guidance and resources for educators including, but not limit- 14 ed to, supports for school districts to offer professional learning 15 opportunities, that may be used to assist such educators in meeting the 16 requirements of this section. The department shall also, subject to 17 appropriation, provide technical assistance to school districts as such 18 school districts transition their operations, including but not limited 19 to facilities and transportation, to more energy efficient and climate 20 friendly approaches. 21 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately. EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [] is old law to be omitted. LBD03181-01-5