Civics education and media literacy is critically important for our students to prepare them for college and career, and to allow them to fully participate in our democratic society.  

As we approach the 250th anniversary of the United States, we have a historic opportunity to strengthen civic learning from the earliest grades, through graduation.  Students, parents and families, educators, school leaders and civic partners across the state are advancing a shared call to action: strengthen educational policy, invest in professional learning, and modernize civic education and media literacy for a rapidly changing world.  

In conjunction with our partners Democracy Ready NY, NYS PTA supports: 

$2.5 million for Strengthening Elementary Civics Education 

•  Fund pilot programs, curriculum development, and professional learning for elementary educators 
• Expand evidence-based models such as the ONW BOCES integrated ELA/Social Studies curriculum  
• Support NYSED in developing statewide guidance on civic competencies and dedicated instructional time 

$5 million to Build the Foundations of Civic Readiness  

• Expand access to the Seal of Civic Readiness and experiential learning opportunities (currently only 26,000 of 172,000 graduates receive the Seal) 
• Fund professional learning aligned with Portrait of a Graduate civic competencies  
• Support programs for civic readiness that foster civic learning  

$15 million to Modernize Civic Learning with Media and AI Literacy for ALL 

• Ensure every school has a fully funded, certified library media specialist 
• Establish a statewide Task Force on Media & AI Literacy Integration in K-12 
• Fund pilot programs and professional learning for media, information, and AI literacy  
• Add Media and AI Literacy to NYSED’s required instructional topics