This bill includes instruction on Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander history in the Department of Education's required units of instruction on American history and Maine studies. The bill requires the department to convene a volunteer advisory committee to collect information and prepare materials for teaching Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander history and to develop and provide guidance, best practices and exemplar modules to local school administrative units to integrate Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander history into their curriculum. The bill also requires the department to develop a process to enable a local school administrative unit to conduct an internal audit of its curriculum to ensure an equitable representation of Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander voices and an accurate historical account of Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander history and culture. The bill also requires the department to submit a report on the progress of the implementation of this legislation to the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs no later than April 1, 2030.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text LD 957, HP 616: 20-A.4706