Illinois is now the first state in the country to require Asian American history be taught in public schools.
Governor JB Pritzker signed the bill into law, which will be in effect for the 2022-2023 school year.
“Every high school graduate of Illinois will know about the legalized internment camps here in the United States during World War II, students will learn about the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 which banned the Chinese from coming to this nation at all,” said Pritzker.
The bill was sponsored by Representative Jennifer Gong-Gershwitz of Glenview who says the painful past should not be glossed over.
“The Teach Act is also about uplifting Asian American stories at a time of rising anti-Asian hate and violence. The lack of representation in curriculum, in positions of power, and media leads to miseducation. That miseducation contributes to discrimination and violence towards Asian-Americans,” said Gong-Gershwitz.
Schools will be able to put together their own curriculum with guidance from the State Board of Education.
