Prohibits the appointment of certain state, municipal or agency employees as impartial hearing officers to hear appeals of determinations regarding children with handicapping conditions.
Directs the commissioner of education to appoint a media literacy advisory group to study the teaching of media literacy; requires such group to survey all school districts on the media literacy practices of and the current media literacy resources available to each district, to inquire how districts are currently integrating digital citizenship and media literacy education in their curriculum.
Requires school districts to provide instructional programming and services in reading and literacy which are evidence based and aligned with state standards; requires teachers in grades pre-K through five to attend professional development courses in reading education.
Directs the commissioner of education to change the name of the state high school equivalency diploma, formerly known as the general education development (GED) program, to the Excelsior diploma.
Enacts the "New York city Caribbean steel pan educational music program act"; requires community school boards in the city of New York to authorize, where reasonable, the use of school grounds in the summer months for use by any steel pan music organization to practice for the Labor Day Parade (West Indian Carnival).
Relates to prohibiting school districts, school principals, administrators, or teachers from requiring, permitting, or conducting a lesson or experimental study using an animal in a hatching project.
Requires instruction in senior high schools regarding calling 911 when witnessing or experiencing a drug or alcohol overdose; provides that pupils shall receive instruction regarding the lawfulness of calling 911 when witnessing or experiencing a drug or alcohol overdose; encourages pupils to call 911 when witnessing or experiencing a drug or alcohol overdose without fear of arrest.
Relates to school climate and codes of conduct on school property and disciplinary action following violation of such codes of conduct; makes conforming amendments.
Establishes that instruction in financial education be provided to pupils in grades nine through twelve; establishes what should be included in such curriculum including the basics of financial planning, budgeting, borrowing, interest rates, personal insurance policies, etc.
Directs the commissioner of education to appoint a media literacy advisory committee to study the teaching of media literacy; requires such committee to annually review policy on media literacy.
Requires teachers and library media specialists to complete professional development related to media literacy education; directs the department of education to develop model media literacy education and CTLE requirements related to media literacy education.