This bill amends the Public School Code of 1949 by repealing the existing provisions related to Holocaust, genocide, and human rights violations instruction and replacing them with new requirements. Specifically, it repeals Section 1554, which allowed school entities to offer instruction on these topics starting in the 2015-2016 school year, and introduces a new Section 1554.1 that mandates such instruction beginning in the 2026-2027 school year. The new section outlines that the instruction must be integrated into social studies and language arts courses, be age-appropriate, and communicate the connections between intolerance and the subjects covered.

Additionally, the bill requires the Department of Education to review and update existing curriculum guidelines, provide in-service training programs for educators, and ensure that school entities post relevant instructional resources on their websites. The bill also defines key terms such as "Holocaust," "genocide," and "anti-Semitism," and establishes that the Department of Education will work with educational organizations to develop and disseminate the necessary materials. The repeal of the previous section will take effect on June 30, 2026, while the rest of the act will take effect immediately.

Statutes/Laws affected:
Printer's No. 76 (Jan 22, 2025): P.L.30, No.14
Printer's No. 0076: P.L.30, No.14