The bill amends the Revised School Code to establish a temporary commission tasked with updating African-American history instruction in K-12 education. This commission will be created under Section 1164 and will consist of representatives from various educational institutions and organizations, including the University of Michigan, Michigan State University, Wayne State University, the NAACP Michigan conference, the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, and the Jim Crow Museum at Ferris State University. The commission is required to meet publicly and operate under the Open Meetings Act and the Freedom of Information Act. Members will serve without compensation and are expected to provide recommendations on age-appropriate African-American history instruction within one year of their first meeting.

The commission's recommendations will include the study of African-American history during significant periods such as Reconstruction and the Civil Rights Era, as well as the contributions of African-Americans to the development of the United States and other countries. Following the commission's recommendations, the state board will update the academic curriculum standards to incorporate this instruction, and starting in the 2026-2027 school year, schools will be required to provide this instruction at all grade levels. Additionally, state assessments will include questions related to African-American history to ensure that students are evaluated on their understanding of this subject. The bill is set to take effect 90 days after being enacted into law.

Statutes affected:
House Introduced Bill: 380.1, 380.1852