801 – Courses of Instruction in Patriotism and Citizenship and in Certain Historic Documents.

§ 801. Courses  of  instruction  in  patriotism and citizenship and in
  certain historic documents.    1.  In  order  to  promote  a  spirit  of
  patriotic and civic service and obligation and to foster in the children
  of  the  state  moral  and intellectual qualities which are essential in
  preparing to meet the obligations of citizenship in peace or in war, the
  regents of The University of the  State  of  New  York  shall  prescribe
  courses  of  instruction in patriotism, citizenship, civic education and
  values, our shared history of diversity, the role of religious tolerance
  in this country, and human rights issues, with particular  attention  to
  the  study of the inhumanity of genocide, slavery (including the freedom
  trail and underground railroad), the Holocaust, and the mass  starvation
  in  Ireland  from 1845 to 1850, to be maintained and followed in all the
  schools of the state. The  boards  of  education  and  trustees  of  the
  several   cities  and  school  districts  of  the  state  shall  require
  instruction to be given in such courses, by the teachers employed in the
  schools therein. All pupils attending such  schools,  over  the  age  of
  eight years, shall attend upon such instruction.
Similar  courses  of instruction shall be prescribed and maintained in
  private schools in the state, and all pupils in such schools over  eight
  years  of age shall attend upon such courses. If such courses are not so
  established  and  maintained  in  a  private  school,  attendance   upon
  instruction  in such school shall not be deemed substantially equivalent
  to instruction given to pupils of like age in the public schools of  the
  city or district in which such pupils reside.
2.  The regents shall prescribe courses of instruction in the history,
  meaning, significance and effect of the provisions of  the  constitution
  of  the  United  States,  the  amendments  thereto,  the  declaration of
  independence, the  constitution  of  the  state  of  New  York  and  the
  amendments  thereto, to be maintained and followed in all of the schools
  of the state. The boards of education and trustees of the several cities
  and school districts of the state shall require instruction to be  given
  in  such  courses,  by the teachers employed in the schools therein. All
  pupils attending such schools, in the eighth and  higher  grades,  shall
  attend upon such instruction.
Similar  courses  of instruction shall be prescribed and maintained in
  private schools in the state, and all pupils in such schools  in  grades
  or  classes  corresponding  to  the instruction in the eighth and higher
  grades of the public schools shall attend upon  such  courses.  If  such
  courses  are  not  so  established  and  maintained in a private school,
  attendance  upon  instruction  in  such  school  shall  not  be   deemed
  substantially  equivalent  to  instruction given to pupils in the public
  schools of the city or district in which such pupils reside.
3. The regents shall determine the subjects to  be  included  in  such
  courses  of  instruction in patriotism, citizenship, civic education and
  values, our  shared  history  of  diversity,  the  role  of  history  of
  diversity,  the  role  of religious tolerance in this country, and human
  rights issues, with particular attention to the study of the  inhumanity
  of  genocide,  slavery  (including  the  freedom  trail  and underground
  railroad), the Holocaust, and the mass starvation in Ireland  from  1845
  to  1850,  and  in  the history, meaning, significance and effect of the
  provisions of the constitution of  the  United  States,  the  amendments
  thereto,  the declaration of independence, the constitution of the state
  of New York and the amendments thereto, and the period of instruction in
  each of the grades in such subjects. They shall  adopt  rules  providing
  for  attendance  upon such instruction and for such other matters as are
  required for carrying into effect  the  objects  and  purposes  of  this
  section.  The  commissioner  shall be responsible for the enforcement of
  such  section  and  shall  cause  to  be  inspected  and  supervise  the

  instruction  to  be given in such subjects. The commissioner may, in his
  discretion, cause all or a portion of the  public  school  money  to  be
  apportioned  to  a  district  or  city to be withheld for failure of the
  school  authorities  of  such district or city to provide instruction in
  such courses and to compel attendance upon such instruction,  as  herein
  prescribed,  and  for  a  non-compliance  with  the rules of the regents
  adopted as herein provided.
4. The regents shall designate a week during each year and prescribe a
  uniform course of exercises in the public schools of the state  suitable
  for  pupils of various ages to instill into the minds of such pupils the
  purpose, meaning and importance of the bill of rights  articles  in  the
  federal  and state constitutions. Such exercises shall be in addition to
  any prescribed courses of study in the schools.
5. The regents shall make available to all elementary schools  in  the
  state  suitable curriculum materials to aid in the instruction of pupils
  in grades kindergarten through six in the understanding  and  acceptance
  of  children  with disabilities as defined in section forty-four hundred
  one of this chapter.