Hearing on the Seal of Civic Readiness in DOE High Schools and CUNY (10/20/2026)

The New York City Council’s joint Education and Higher Education committees held a hearing on October 20, 2026, about the New York State Seal of Civic Readiness in DOE high schools and CUNY. Discussion focused on expanding access to the Seal, improving communication and data tracking, and whether CUNY colleges could award credit for students’ civic learning. CUNY said no campuses currently award credit for the Seal; it plans to work with NYC Public Schools and faculty to review capstone projects and other evidence, identify college-level learning, and develop possible credit pathways. NYC Public Schools reported that 12,019 students earned the Seal across 230 high schools in the 2025–26 school year, and described a phased effort to expand participation. Council members also requested improved visibility of participating schools in the MySchools search tools and stronger coordination between CUNY and NYC Public Schools. No procurement awards or spending votes were taken.

The hearing included a budget discussion: NYC Public Schools cited $861,770 for professional learning, curriculum, and resource development associated with its broader Civics for All work. Officials said most professional learning is provided by the department’s nine-person team and identified Mikva Challenge as an organization paid to provide Project Soapbox-related support; they did not provide a detailed breakdown of the budget by use. New Visions for Public Schools and other civic education organizations described existing or potential support for instructional materials and professional learning, but no contract solicitation or vendor selection was announced. The committees also heard support for resolutions calling on CUNY to recognize the Seal with appropriate college credit, expanding Seal access, and encouraging state action on project-based civics education; no vote on these resolutions was reported.