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1. How泭is泭climate泭education泭defined?泭泭

   For purposes of泭the proposed泭instructional requirement, ���climate education��� refers to instruction to泭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泭proposing泭to泭require泭K-12泭climate education?泭泭

   The 做厙TV (NYSED泭or ���the Department���)泭recognizes the importance of preparing students泭with the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate the environmental challenges of the 21st century泭and泭contribute泭solutions.泭Instruction in climate education ensures泭that students graduate informed and empowered, capable of understanding climate泭impacts,泭and prepared泭for environmental stewardship.泭泭

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

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

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

   If adopted by the Board of Regents, the proposed amendment would泭establish泭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泭climate泭education, allowing for a multi-year phase-in to support thoughtful planning and alignment with existing instructional programs.泭

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

• Causes of Climate Change泭泭泭
• Impacts泭of Climate Change泭
• Solutions for Climate Change泭

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

6. How will NYSED ensure that districts泭are meeting泭the instructional泭requirement泭for climate education?泭

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

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

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

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

For more information relating to the泭instructional泭requirement,泭please visit泭the泭Climate泭做厙TV webpage.泭

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

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泭January 19, 2026) and can be submitted to泭REGCOMMENTS@nysed.gov泭and/or mailed to:��浴r. Santosha Oliver, Assistant Commissioner,泭NYS 做厙TV Department, Office of Standards & Instruction,泭89 Washington Avenue, Room 860 EBA,泭Albany, NY 12234.泭