Climate Education FAQ
In November 2024, the Department presented NY Inspires: A Plan to Transform Education in 91Ƶ State. This plan included a timeline for implementing the four key transformations that established the proposed vision for implementing the recommendations of the Blue Ribbon Commission. As part of Phase 1 of the plan, at the November 2025 Board of Regents meeting, ٳ Department proposed the to require instruction in climate education for public school students in grades kindergarten through 12. The following provide questions and answers (Q&A) relating to the proposed amendment. These Q&A are subject to change pending formal adoption of the proposed regulations by the Board of Regents.
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Howisclimateeducationdefined?
For purposes ofthe proposedinstructional requirement, “climate education” refers to instruction tohelp 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.
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Why is 91Ƶ StateproposingtorequireK-12climate education?
The 91Ƶ State Education Department (91Ƶor “the Department”)recognizes the importance of preparing studentswith the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate the environmental challenges of the 21st centuryandcontributesolutions.Instruction in climate education ensuresthat students graduate informed and empowered, capable of understanding climateimpacts,and preparedfor environmental stewardship.
As part of Phase 1 of the NY Inspires plan,at the November Board of Regents meeting,consistent with recommendations of the Blue Ribbon Commission, the Departmentproposed theto require instruction in climate education for all public school students in grades kindergarten (K) through twelve.
Additionally,at their July 2025 meeting,the Boardof Regentsformallyadopted the NewYork State Portrait of a Graduate(the Portrait).Integratingkey concepts ofclimate educationinto K-12educationalprograms,providesa unique opportunity for students toapply discipline-specific knowledge and skills in meaningful ways while developingtheessentialattributes of the Portrait: Academic Preparedness, Creative Innovation, Critical Thinking, Effective Communication, Global Citizenship, and being Reflective and Future Focused.
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Under the proposed timeline, whenwillschoolsberequiredto beginprovidinginstruction in climateeducation?
If adopted by the Board of Regents, the proposed amendment wouldestablisha 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 inclimateeducation, allowing for a multi-year phase-in to support thoughtful planning and alignment with existing instructional programs.
School districts are encouraged to begin implementation ahead of the established timelines for each grade band, as readiness and capacity allow.
| Middle Grade Band (Grades 5–8) and High School Grade Band (Grades 9–12) | Elementary Grade Band (Grades K–4) |
|---|---|
| Beginning with the 2027–2028 SY | Beginning with the 2028–2029 SY |
- Will districtsbe requiredto provide instruction inclimateeducationat each grade levelunder the proposed amendment?
The proposed amendment provides that instruction in climate education must be provided by the end of the last year of each grade band–elementary (K-4), middle (5-8), and high school (9-12).Specifically:
- Elementary school students must receive instruction by the end of grade 4.
- Middle school students must receive instruction by the end of grade 8.
- High school students must receive instruction by the end of grade 12.
While districtsare required toensure instruction is provided by the end of each grade band, they have flexibility indeterminingwhen and how instruction is delivered within each band. Districts may choose to provide instruction across multiple grade levels orconcentrateinstructionwithin a specific year, based on local needs and capacity.Districts may, but are notrequiredto,provide instruction on climate educationinall gradelevels within each grade band.
- What topicsshould be includedininstructiononclimateeducation?
The Department, in collaboration with an advisory committee ofstakeholders withexpertisein environmental and climate educationhasidentifiedthreebroadtopicstobeintegratedacross K-12climate educationinstruction:
- Causes of Climate Change
- Impactsof Climate Change
- Solutions for Climate Change
These topics are designed to support developmentallyappropriate instructionthat fosters student awareness, critical thinking, and civic engagement related to climateeducation. Objectives for each topic will be developed fortheelementary, middle, and high school grade bands to ensure a coherent anddevelopmentallyappropriateprogressionof learning.
- How will 91Ƶ ensure that districtsare meetingthe instructionalrequirementfor climate education?
Under the proposed amendment,for the2027-2028 and 2028-2029 school years,each school district willbe requiredtosubmitverification to the Commissioner of Education that it has implemented instruction in climate educationwithin the gradebands prescribed inthe regulations. Such verification will besubmittedthrough the SED Monitoring and Vendor Performance System in the 91Ƶ Business Portal.Additionalguidance and instructions will be shared in future guidance.
- How canschooldistricts meet theproposedinstructionalrequirementfor climate education?
The proposed amendment providesdistrictsflexibility in local implementation.Instruction in climate education can be providedthrough one or both of the following implementation options:
Embedded Instruction:Instruction on climate educationisintentionallyintegrated into existingsubject areas(e.g., science, mathematics, social studies, etc.)withinadesignatedgrade band.Studentsmust beprovided withmeaningfulopportunities tolearnabout thethreeclimate educationtopicsby the endofsuchgradeband.Instruction must be delivered byateacherappropriately certifiedin the subject area where theembeddedinstructionisoccurring.
Stand-Alone Course:Instruction on climate educationisprovidedin adedicated course(s)within a designated grade band.Students mustreceiveinstructionthataddressesthe three climate education topicsby the end of suchgradeband.Instructionmust bedeliveredby ateacherappropriately certifiedto teach suchcourse.
- Do school districts need to provideboth implementationoptions?
No.The proposed regulation allows for local flexibility in how climate instruction is delivered.Districts are encouraged toutilizeas many of the available options as practical to provide engaging and meaningful instruction inclimate education. Eachoptionholds equal value and may be selected based on local context, resources, and instructional design.Some schools may wish to teach stand-aloneclimate educationclasses, particularly in the middle or high school grade bands when the content becomes more focused; others may embedclimate educationinstruction in existing courses. Regardless of the implementationoptionselected, instruction must:
- Address allthreeclimateeducationtopics.
- Be delivered byanappropriately certified teacher.
- What support will be provided to teachers and schools?
In addition to this FAQ,the Department will develop guidancetofurthersupport districtsandeducators inimplementing the proposed instructional requirement.This guidance will includegrade-bandobjectivesforeachtopictoinforminstructional planning.The guidancewill bereleasedin the coming months.
- Where canadditionalinformation relating totheproposedinstructional requirementfor climate educationbe found?
For more information relating to theinstructionalrequirement,please visittheClimateEducation webpage.
- Where canpublic comment on the proposedamendment besubmitted?
Written comments on the proposed amendment will be accepted for 60-days after its publication in the 91Ƶ State Register on November 19, 2025 (must be received byJanuary 19, 2026) and can be submitted toREGCOMMENTS@nysed.govand/or mailed to: Dr. Santosha Oliver, Assistant Commissioner,NYS Education Department, Office of Standards & Instruction,89 Washington Avenue, Room 860 EBA,Albany, NY 12234.