In July 2021, Illinois set a historic benchmark and became the first state in the United States to require its public schools to teach Asian American history. And now, New Jersey is poised to follow in its footsteps with similar state education requirements.
Tat Bellamy-Walker of NBC News reported that the New Jersey legislature approved a bill requiring public schools to teach Asian American history. The bill, which passed both the state Senate and the General Assembly in December 2021, now moves to Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy, who is expected to sign it into law.
“If signed, New Jersey would become the second state to mandate Asian American history as part of its public school curriculum, after Illinois did so earlier [in 2021],” Bellamy-Walker wrote.
