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Teaching Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander History Act
3/6/2024, 8:15 AM
Summary of Bill HR 3434
If passed, the bill would provide grants to states and school districts to develop and implement programs that incorporate the history and experiences of these communities into K-12 education. This includes teaching about the contributions of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders to the cultural, economic, and social fabric of the United States.
The bill also emphasizes the importance of promoting cultural competency and understanding among students, teachers, and administrators. By including the history of these communities in the curriculum, the bill aims to foster a more inclusive and diverse learning environment that reflects the rich tapestry of American society. Overall, the Teaching Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander History Act seeks to address the gaps in the current educational system and ensure that students have access to a more comprehensive and accurate representation of American history. It highlights the importance of recognizing and celebrating the contributions of all communities in shaping the nation's past and present.
Congressional Summary of HR 3434
Teaching Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander History Act
This bill requires entities (e.g., institutions of higher education, libraries, and museums), in order to be eligible for certain grants administered by the Department of Education (ED), to include Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander history in their teaching of American history. It also requires Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander history to be included in tests administered by the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP).
Specifically, the bill mandates the inclusion of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander history as a required component of American history for such entities to be eligible for American History and Civics Academies' competitive grants. These grants support the establishment of (1) Presidential Academies for Teachers of American History and Civics, which offer workshops to teachers of American history and civics to strengthen their knowledge and prepare them to teach in these subjects; and (2) Congressional Academies for Students of American History and Civics, which support high school students in developing an understanding of these subjects. (Currently, Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander history is not a required component of American history for either academy.)
In addition, ED must give priority to grant applicants that align their activities with programs and resources of the Smithsonian Institution's Asian Pacific American Center.
The bill also requires the inclusion of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander history in tests administered by the NAEP, which measures student academic achievement in various subjects.
