The state Board of Regents is calling on schools across the state and on Long Island to include racism as part of the lesson plan.

With the new school year comes mask mandates, vaccination requirements and now a proposal to have districts come up with plans to address diversity and inclusion in the classroom.

The new guidance was adopted back in May and it's not mandatory.

On the state Education Department's website, it says it expects that all school districts will develop policies that advance diversity, equity, and inclusion and that they implement such policies with fidelity and urgency.

Elaine Gross, of ERASE Racism, says the group is very pleased with the development.

"It's an evolving process with the New York state Education Department and we think it's absolutely needed, and it matches a kind of evolution that has been happening in a lot of the school districts as well," says Gross. "They have been more about representing the full spectrum of the Long Island population. "

Some parents think they should be the ones to teach such topics and worry that schools are too focused on skin color.

"You can't teach this stuff," says Jennifer Petrakis, of Cold Spring Harbor. "Different color skin is not diversity. Diversity is different philosophies and different political viewpoints, different cultures and different ideas -- kids love that -- people love that."

The Three Village School District formed an anti-racism and social justice task force with students, parents, community members, educators and social workers. District officials say the goal is to enhance the educational environment where every member of the school community feels welcomed.