New York State Bar Association Advocates for Increased Civics Education Funding
11.2.2024
The New York State Bar Association is urging that schools be given more money to teach civics and is encouraging lawyers to lend their expertise. The association’s governing body, the House of Delegates, adopted the recommendations of the 2024 Civics Convocation Task Force on Saturday.
“Legal professionals have an important role to play in addressing the civics education crisis in this country,” said Domenick Napoletano, president of the New York State Bar Association. “As a trusted resource, we can inform the public and increase civility in society. We must make sure that the next generation of citizens is able to fully participate in democracy. I thank the task force for all its hard work on this important issue.”
Earlier this year, the New York State Bar Association convened a day-long Civics Convocation, which brought together a diverse group of educators, experts, legal professionals, government officials and students to discuss ways to improve civics education.
U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor spoke at the event, which was designed to explore how to ensure New Yorkers understand what the U.S. Constitution guarantees and how our democracy works. After delivering her remarks virtually to an audience at the Bar Center in Albany on May 9, Justice Sotomayor answered questions from students.
The New York State Bar Association also recommends:
- Public awareness campaigns to emphasize the importance of civics education for preserving democracy.
- Collaboration between schools, courts, and community organizations to provide hands-on civic learning opportunities for students.
- Support for professional development and training for teachers in civics education.
The co-chairs of the 2024 Civics Convocation Task Force are Gail Ehrlich, pro bono lawyer for the Pace Women’s Justice Center and a former high school law and government teacher; Christopher Riano, of counsel at Holland & Knight and a lecturer in constitutional law and government; and Jay Worona, deputy executive director and general counsel at the New York State School Boards Association.
Richard Lewis, immediate past president of the New York State Bar Association, convened the task force.
