Key facts
- The New York City Council has allocated $1 million to the 9/11 Memorial & Museum.
- The funding is intended to provide free field trips for New York City students.
- Eighth-grade classes will be a primary focus for the educational programming.
- The initiative aims to educate younger generations about the September 11th attacks.
- The funding will also support virtual field trips and teacher training.
New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin and Council Members gathered at the 9/11 Memorial to announce $1 million in funding for the 9/11 Memorial & Museum. This investment, secured in the Fiscal Year 2027 Budget, is designated to expand educational programming and offer free field trips to New York City students, with a particular emphasis on eighth graders. The initiative aims to ensure that younger generations understand the events of September 11, 2001, the lives lost, and the enduring impact of the attacks.
Beth Hillman, President & CEO of the 9/11 Memorial & Museum, stated that the museum is committed to its mission of commemorating the 2,977 individuals killed on 9/11 and educating the next generation. She noted that approximately 100 million Americans alive today were too young to remember the attacks firsthand, underscoring the vital role of educational programming. The funding will support guided, self-guided, and virtual field trips, provide free audio guides for student groups, grant access to the 9/11 Anniversary Digital Learning Experience, and offer related training for New York City educators.
Council members, including Deputy Leader Sandra Ung, emphasized the importance of never forgetting the human cost of the attacks and the acts of courage that followed. The funding is seen as a way to honor the victims and celebrate the resilience of New Yorkers in the aftermath of the tragedy.