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Teaching Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander History Act
3/12/2024, 8:05 AM
Summary of Bill S 1702
The bill aims to address the lack of representation and education on the history and contributions of these communities in the current school curriculum. By incorporating this history into the curriculum, the bill seeks to provide students with a more comprehensive understanding of American history and the diverse cultures that have shaped the country.
If passed, the Teaching Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander History Act would provide funding and resources to schools to develop and implement curriculum that includes the history and experiences of these communities. It would also support professional development for teachers to ensure they are equipped to teach this important history effectively. Overall, this bill is aimed at promoting diversity and inclusivity in education by ensuring that the history of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities is accurately represented and taught in schools.
Congressional Summary of S 1702
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 Pacific American history in their teaching of American history. It also requires Asian Pacific American history to be included in tests administered by the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP).
Specifically, the bill mandates the inclusion of Asian Pacific American 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 Pacific American 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 Pacific American history in tests administered by the NAEP, which measures student academic achievement in various subjects.
