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A 6490

Requires instruction in arts and music education to be incorporated into curriculums for all public school students

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Joe Angelino and 73 co-sponsors

Requires all public K-12 schools to embed arts and music in the curriculum, expanding student access and obligating districts to fund and staff these programs.

REFERRED TO EDUCATION
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Bill Summary · A 6490

Summary — A.6490 (A.6490B)

Title: Requires instruction in arts and music education to be incorporated into curriculums for all public school students
Bill number: A.6490 (Print 6490B) — Introduced March 5, 2025

Purpose / Intent

The bill’s stated purpose is to ensure that arts and music instruction are incorporated into the curriculum for all public school students. The intent is to make arts and music regular, required elements of K–12 public education statewide, rather than optional or extracurricular offerings.

Key provisions (based on bill title and available information)

The full bill text is not included in the materials provided. Based on the bill title and common elements in similar legislation, A.6490 is expected to do one or more of the following:
- Require public school districts to incorporate arts and music education into district-wide curricula for all grade levels (K–12).
- Direct the State Education Department (or local school districts) to establish curriculum standards or learning outcomes for arts and music and align them with existing learning standards.
- Specify how frequently or how many instructional minutes/hours per week or per year should be devoted to arts and music (if detailed in the text).
- Address teacher qualifications/certification for arts and music instructors and provide guidance on professional development.
- Require reporting by districts on implementation (e.g., provision of arts/music courses, student participation rates).
- Provide for funding, reimbursement, or grant programs to help districts implement the requirement (or direct districts to use existing resources).
- Allow for flexibility or exemptions for charter/private contract schools as provided by law (details would depend on the bill text).

Note: Because the full legislative text was not provided, readers should consult the published bill (Print 6490B) for precise provisions, definitions, and any specified timelines or funding mechanisms.

Who would be affected

  • Public school students across affected grade spans (likely K–12).
  • School districts and charter schools (responsible for curriculum changes).
  • Teachers and arts/music specialists (potential impacts on staffing, certification, PD).
  • District budgets and facilities (possible need for instruments, supplies, rehearsal/performance space).
  • State Education Department (guidance, oversight, and reporting responsibilities).

Potential impacts

  • Expanded access to arts/music instruction, potentially improving student engagement and arts literacy.
  • Operational and fiscal impacts on district budgets if new staffing, materials, or facilities are required.
  • Professional development and hiring needs to meet any new certification or instructional requirements.

Legislative status & timeline (selected actions)

  • 2025-03-05: Referred to Assembly Education Committee
  • 2025-04-07: Amended and recommitted to Education (Print 6490A)
  • 2025-04-23: Amended and recommitted to Education; Print Number 6490B (current) (Records show duplicate entries for some actions.)

Sponsors and related legislation

  • Primary sponsor: Landon C. Dais
  • Cosponsors include: Judy Griffin, Sarahana Shrestha, Jonathan Jacobson, Billy Jones, Matthew Simpson, Andrew Hevesi, Nily Rozic, Daniel Norber, Brian Manktelow, Dana Levenberg, Charles Lavine, Edward Ra, Jeff Gallahan, Paula Bologna, Emerita Torres, Tommy Schiavoni, Joe DeStefano, Rebecca Seawright, Claire Valdez, Phil Steck, Steve Stern, Brian D. Miller, Steven Raga, Anil Beephan Jr., Keith Brown, John K. Mikulin, Stefani Zinerman, Michael Durso, Didi Barrett, Karen McMahon, Manny De Los Santos, Paula Kay, Philip Ramos, Ron Kim, Christopher Eachus, and others.
  • Companion bill in Senate: S.6318
  • Related prior-session bills: A.1788, A.1502, A.9660

Next steps / how to follow

  • Review the official Print 6490B text for definitive requirements (curriculum content, minutes, funding, timelines).
  • Monitor Assembly Education Committee activity for hearings, fiscal notes, and amendments.
  • Check companion Senate bill S.6318 for parallel action.

If you want, I can retrieve and summarize the full printed bill text (A.6490B) to identify the exact requirements, implementation dates, and any funding provisions.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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