Overview
- Amendment of section 100.2 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education requires that instruction in climate education be provided by the end of the last year of each grade band—elementary, middle, and high school.
- This amendment, approved by the New York State Board of Regents on March 10, 2026, ensures all K–12 students are given the opportunity to learn about the causes, impacts, and solutions to the climate crisis.
Amendment of Section 100.2
Effective March 25, 2026
Youth Leadership Was Central to This Outcome
Coalition
The Climate and Resilience Education Task Force (CRETF) and its Youth Steering Committee have spent years actively collaborating with educators, state policymakers, and partners in New York and beyond to advance climate education (CE) policy and professional learning opportunities in New York's P–12 schools.
Funding
CRETF is hopeful that funds will be allocated to the requirement in the final FY27 budget. CRETF offers school districts vetted climate education resources, professional learning experiences through its partners, and opportunities for knowledge exchange and mentorship through a community of practice.
Target Audience
The CE requirement will go into effect in the 2027–2028 school year, beginning with grades 5–12, and in the 2028–29 school year for grades K–4. The State Education Department is working with stakeholders to develop comprehensive guidance, supporting public schools with the effective implementation of high-quality, culturally responsive climate education, with flexibility to meet their local needs.
Impact
Approximately 2.2 million K–12 public school students in New York will learn about climate change, its causes, impacts, and solutions, along with roughly 210,000 public school teachers. The State Education Department will work to ensure a developmentally appropriate progression of instruction in climate education, providing guidance and resources here.
Contact: CRETF co-founder, Emily Fano, FanoE@nwf.org