Democratic
state lawmakers
in
Oregon
,
New York
, and
California
have proposed bills that would require schools in their states to develop and implement a
climate change
-focused curriculum.
The bills in the three state legislatures follow similar legislation enacted in Connecticut last year and would require public schools to include climate change instruction for students in grades K-12.
The bills in each state differ slightly. The Oregon version of the bill “requires each school district board to develop [a] written plan establishing [a] climate change instructional program for kindergarten through grade 12,” according to the bill summary. Schools in the state would have until June 1, 2026, to implement the law, should it be enacted.
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The Oregon bill, SB 854, is sponsored by Democratic state Sen. James Manning, who said students in elementary grades had expressed support for the effort.
“We’re talking about third and fourth graders having a vision to understand how this world is changing rapidly,” he said last week at the state Capitol.
In California, AB 285 would require science classes in public schools “include an emphasis on the causes and effects of climate change and methods to mitigate and adapt to climate change.”
The bill, introduced by Democratic Assemblywoman Luz Rivas, would amend the state’s education code to include the requirement and stipulates that lesson plans must be met in time for the 2024–25 school year.
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Twin bills in the New York legislature, AB 851 and SB 278, would direct the state education commissioner to create a model curriculum centered on climate change, which would then be required in all of the state’s public elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools.
The Senate bill, which was introduced by Democratic state Sen. Andrew Gounardes, said the curriculum should cover a host of topics, including “air quality, climate change, energy, environmental justice, sustainability, health, water, and toxins and chemicals.” The curriculum would apply to subjects beyond science, including English, history, and social studies.
