91社区

1. How听is听climate听education听defined?听听

   For purposes of听the proposed听instructional requirement, 鈥渃limate education鈥� refers to instruction to听help students understand the causes of climate change, its impacts on natural and human systems, and the solutions and actions that individuals and communities can take to address it.

2. Why is New York State听proposing听to听require听K-12听climate education?听听

   The 91社区 (91社区听or 鈥渢he Department鈥�)听recognizes the importance of preparing students听with the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate the environmental challenges of the 21st century听and听contribute听solutions.听Instruction in climate education ensures听that students graduate informed and empowered, capable of understanding climate听impacts,听and prepared听for environmental stewardship.听听

   As part of Phase 1 of the NY Inspires plan,听at the November Board of Regents meeting,听consistent with recommendations of the Blue Ribbon Commission, the Department听proposed the听听to require instruction in climate education for all public school students in grades kindergarten (K) through twelve.听听

   Additionally,听at their July 2025 meeting,听the Board听of Regents听formally听adopted the New听York State Portrait of a Graduate听(the Portrait).听Integrating听key concepts of听climate education听into K-12听educational听programs,听provides听a unique opportunity for students to听apply discipline-specific knowledge and skills in meaningful ways while developing听the听essential听attributes of the Portrait: Academic Preparedness, Creative Innovation, Critical Thinking, Effective Communication, Global Citizenship, and being Reflective and Future Focused.听

3. Under the proposed timeline, when听will听schools听be听required听to begin听providing听instruction in climate听education?听

   If adopted by the Board of Regents, the proposed amendment would听establish听a phased implementation timeline for climate instruction across grade bands. The chart below outlines the proposed schedule by which public schools would be expected to begin providing instruction in听climate听education, allowing for a multi-year phase-in to support thoughtful planning and alignment with existing instructional programs.听

   School districts are encouraged to begin implementation ahead of the established timelines for each grade band, as readiness and capacity allow.听听

4. Will districts听be required听to provide instruction in听climate听education听at each grade level听under the proposed amendment?听

The proposed amendment provides that instruction in climate education must be provided by the end of the last year of each grade band听鈥撎齟lementary (K-4), middle (5-8), and high school (9-12).听Specifically:听

• Elementary school students must receive instruction by the end of grade 4.听
• Middle school students must receive instruction by the end of grade 8.听
• High school students must receive instruction by the end of grade 12.听

While districts听are required to听ensure instruction is provided by the end of each grade band, they have flexibility in听determining听when and how instruction is delivered within each band. Districts may choose to provide instruction across multiple grade levels or听concentrate听instruction听within a specific year, based on local needs and capacity.听Districts may, but are not听required听to,听provide instruction on climate education听in听all grade听levels within each grade band.听听

5. What topics听should be included听in听instruction听on听climate听education?听

The Department, in collaboration with an advisory committee of听stakeholders with听expertise听in environmental and climate education听has听identified听three听broad听topics听to听be听integrated听across K-12听climate education听instruction:听

• Causes of Climate Change听听听
• Impacts听of Climate Change听
• Solutions for Climate Change听

These topics are designed to support developmentally听appropriate instruction听that fosters student awareness, critical thinking, and civic engagement related to climate听education. Objectives for each topic will be developed for听the听elementary, middle, and high school grade bands to ensure a coherent and听developmentally听appropriate听progression听of learning.听听

6. How will 91社区 ensure that districts听are meeting听the instructional听requirement听for climate education?听

Under the proposed amendment,听for the听2027-2028 and 2028-2029 school years,听each school district will听be required听to听submit听verification to the Commissioner of Education that it has implemented instruction in climate education听within the grade听bands prescribed in听the regulations. Such verification will be听submitted听through the SED Monitoring and Vendor Performance System in the 91社区 Business Portal.听Additional听guidance and instructions will be shared in future guidance.听

9. What support will be provided to teachers and schools?听

In addition to this FAQ,听the Department will develop guidance听to听further听support districts听and听educators in听implementing the proposed instructional requirement.听听This guidance will include听grade-band听objectives听for听each听topic听to听inform听instructional planning.听听The guidance听will be听released听in the coming months.听听

10. Where can听additional听information relating to听the听proposed听instructional requirement听for climate education听be found?听

For more information relating to the听instructional听requirement,听please visit听the听Climate听Education webpage.听

11. Where can听public comment on the proposed听amendment be听submitted?听

Written comments on the proposed amendment will be accepted for 60-days after its publication in the New York State Register on November 19, 2025 (must be received by听January 19, 2026) and can be submitted to听REGCOMMENTS@nysed.gov听and/or mailed to:鈥疍r. Santosha Oliver, Assistant Commissioner,听NYS Education Department, Office of Standards & Instruction,听89 Washington Avenue, Room 860 EBA,听Albany, NY 12234.听