The bill SB1557 mandates that the State Board of Education (SBE) include the history and contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the United States and Arizona as part of the high school social studies academic standards. This requirement will take effect when the SBE next updates these standards. Currently, the law prescribes competency requirements for high school graduation in various subjects, including social studies, but does not specifically mention Asian American and Pacific Islander history.

In summary, the key difference introduced by this bill is the explicit inclusion of Asian American and Pacific Islander history in the social studies curriculum, which is not currently mandated by law. The bill does not impose any immediate fiscal impact on the state General Fund and aims to enhance the representation of diverse histories in educational standards.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 15-701.01