ALBANY – Assemblyman Matt Slater (R,C-Yorktown) announced this week that his legislation to strengthen September 11 education in New York schools is gaining support from the 9/11 Education Foundation as lawmakers renew their push to ensure future generations understand the events, sacrifices and lasting impact of Sept. 11, 2001.
Slater introduced , which would require the state education commissioner to establish Sept. 11 awareness curriculum or instruction for school districts. The 9/11 Education Foundation has publicly supported the legislation and called on state leaders to advance the measure. State Sen. Rob Rolison (R-Poughkeepsie) is also introducing the legislation in the Senate, giving the bill a sponsor in both chambers of the state Legislature. Slater’s Assembly bill is currently before the Assembly Education Committee.
“Twenty-five years ago, our nation witnessed unimaginable evil, but we also witnessed extraordinary courage, sacrifice and unity,” said Slater. “As the generation that remembers September 11 firsthand grows older, we have a responsibility to make sure those stories are never lost. The support of the 9/11 Education Foundation and Senator Rolison sends a powerful message that ‘Never Forget’ cannot simply be something we say—it has to be something we teach.”
Firefighter Joseph P. Spor Jr.’s Law would require instruction addressing the historical context of terrorism; the attacks on the World Trade Center, Pentagon and United Airlines Flight 93; America’s recovery and response; the global consequences of the attacks; and the examples of heroism, resilience and service that emerged during and after 9/11. Educational resources must be age-appropriate, factually accurate, and sourced from reputable sources.
The legislation is named in honor of FDNY Firefighter Joseph P. Spor Jr., a member of Rescue Company 3 who made the ultimate sacrifice on Sept. 11, 2001. Twenty-five states currently have laws or education standards that require or expect public schools to provide instruction specifically on the Sept. 11 attacks. Arizona law requires 9/11 instruction for students in grades seven through 12, while Florida law requires certain middle and high school courses to dedicate at least 45 minutes to instruction on the attacks.
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