Laws requiring teaching of the Holocaust

A number of countries maintain laws requiring the presentation of information concerning actions of the government of Germany regarding Jews in its territory during the period of that government's control by the National Socialist (Nazi) German Worker's Party from 1933 to 1945, commonly referred to as the Holocaust. In the United States, laws of this kind are maintained by individual states and typically specify curriculum content and the ages of the pupils to which various portions of the curricula are to be presented.

Many of the particulars of conformance with these laws are specified or influenced by policies and pronouncements of the Task Force for International Cooperation on Holocaust Education, Holocaust Remembrance, and Holocaust Research. A country's membership in this organization, however, does not necessarily imply any legal mandate within the said country regarding Holocaust education.

Laws prohibiting "Holocaust denial" are maintained by many—but not all—of the same jurisdictions that have these laws. These laws apply to individuals and involve criminal punishment and therefore they are in all cases separate statutes.

Nations and U.S. states

As of June of 2022, laws mandating education in the Holocaust were on the books in Austria, France, Germany, Hungary, Israel, the Netherlands, Poland, Switzerland, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

In the United States, the states of Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, Maine, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, and Wisconsin. In total, 23 states have mandatory Holocaust education.[1]

Nation or U.S. state Year enacted Citation Key wording
California 1985 California Education Code Section 51220 Instruction shall provide a foundation for understanding ... human rights issues, with particular attention to the study of the inhumanity of genocide, slavery, and the Holocaust, and contemporary issues.
Illinois 1989 105 ILCS 5/27-20.3 Every public elementary school and high school shall include in its curriculum a unit of instruction studying the events of the Nazi atrocities of 1933 to 1945. This period in world history is known as the Holocaust, during which 6,000,000 Jews and millions of non-Jews were exterminated. One of the universal lessons of the Holocaust is that national, ethnic, racial, or religious hatred can overtake any nation or society, leading to calamitous consequences.
New Jersey 1991 Every board of education shall include instruction on the Holocaust and genocides in an appropriate place in the curriculum of all elementary and secondary school pupils.

The instruction shall enable pupils to identify and analyze applicable theories concerning human nature and behavior: to understand that genocide is a consequence of prejudice and discrimination: and to understand that issues of moral dilemma and conscience have a profound impact on life. The instruction shall further emphasize the personal responsibility that each citizen bears to fight racism and hatred whenever and wherever it happens.

Florida 1994 F.S. 1003.42(2)(g) The history of the Holocaust (1933-1945), the systematic, planned annihilation of European Jews and other groups by Nazi Germany, a watershed event in the history of humanity, to be taught in a manner that leads to an investigation of human behavior, an understanding of the ramifications of prejudice, racism, and stereotyping, and an examination of what it means to be a responsible and respectful person, for the purposes of encouraging tolerance of diversity in a pluralistic society and for nurturing and protecting democratic values and institutions.
New York 1994 Education Title 1 Art. 17, Sec. 801 The regents of the University of the State of New York shall prescribe courses of instruction in patriotism (and) citizenship and human rights issues, with particular attention to the study of the inhumanity of genocide, slavery, and the Holocaust, to be maintained and followed in all the schools of the state.
Pennsylvania 2014 SB 47 Each public school student shall receive mandatory instruction in the Holocaust, genocide and human rights violations from grade six through grade twelve. The instruction shall be integrated within the social studies and language arts courses of study required in accordance with the State Board of Education regulations.
Michigan 2016 Public Act No. 170 Social studies curriculum for grades 8 to 12 includes age- and grade-appropriate instruction about genocide, including, but not limited to, the Holocaust and the Armenian Genocide. The legislature recommends a combined total of 6 hours of this instruction during grades 8 to 12.
Rhode Island 2016 2016-H 7488A The legislation requires each district to include in its curriculum a unit on the Holocaust and genocide for every student by the time he or she graduates. The subject could be taught in either middle school or high school, as the local district deems appropriate.
Connecticut 2018 Public Act 18-24 Each local and regional board of education shall include Holocaust and genocide education and awareness as part of the social studies curriculum for the school district.
Kentucky 2018 HB 128 Every public middle and high school's curriculum shall include instruction on the Holocaust and other cases of genocide.
Texas 2019 SB 1828 Holocaust Remembrance Week shall include age-appropriate instruction, as determined by each school district. Instruction shall include: (1) information about the history of and lessons learned from the Holocaust; (2) participation, in person or using technology, in learning projects about the Holocaust; and (3) the use of materials developed or approved by the Texas Holocaust and Genocide Commission.
Oregon 2019 SB 664 Requires school districts to provide instruction about Holocaust and genocide beginning with 2020–2021 school year.
Colorado 2020 HB 20 - 1336 Each school district Board of Education and charter school shall incorporate academic standards on Holocaust and Genocide studies into an existing course that is currently a condition of high school graduation.
Delaware 2020 HB 318 This Act requires the Department of Education to establish and implement a curriculum on the Holocaust and genocide for students in grades 6 through 12.
New Hampshire 2020 SB 727 Knowledge of civics and government, economics, geography, history, and Holocaust and genocide education to enable them to participate in the democratic process and to make informed choices as responsible citizens.[2]

Additionally, there will be established a commission to study best practices for teaching students how intolerance, bigotry, antisemitism, and national, ethnic, racial, or religious hatred and discrimination have evolved in the past, and can evolve into mass violence and genocide, such as the Holocaust.

Wisconsin 2021 WI Act 30 The law requires that every school district incorporate the teaching of the Holocaust and other genocides into the social studies curriculum and is taught at least once in grades 5-8 and at least once in grades 9-12.
Arkansas 2021 SB 160 Beginning in the 2022–2023 school year, Holocaust education shall be taught in all public schools in a manner that: (1) Generates an understanding of the causes, course, and effects of the Holocaust; (2) Develops dialogue with students on the ramifications of bullying, bigotry, stereotyping, and discrimination; and (3) Encourages tolerance of diversity and reverence for human dignity for all citizens in a pluralistic society.
Arizona 2021 HB 2241 The signed law requires instruction in the Holocaust and other genocides at least twice between 7th and 12th grades.
Maine 2021 LD 1644 The Maine Department of Education requires Holocaust, genocide and African American studies in state public school curricula.
North Carolina 2021 SB 105 Starting in the 2023-2024 school year, middle and high schools will be required to integrate lessons about the Holocaust into English and Social studies classes.
Oklahoma 2022 SB 1671 Starting in the 2022-2023 school year, students in grades 6-12 in Oklahoma will be required to have Holocaust education.
Nebraska 2022 LB 888 Requires the State Board of Education to adopt academic content standards for education on the Holocaust and other acts of genocide beginning in the 2022-2023 school year.
Missouri 2022 SB 681 Requires classes from sixth grade through high school to designate a week to teach about the Holocaust, using materials developed by the Missouri Holocaust Education and Awareness Commission.

References
  1. "If You Don't Have Mandatory Holocaust Education, Demand It". 2022-06-15.
  2. Vihstadt, Ben. "Governor Chris Sununu Signs HB 1135 Into Law". www.governor.nh.gov/. New Hampshire Governor's Press Release. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
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