The proposed bill amends Chapter 16-22 of the General Laws to introduce a new section, 16-22-39, which mandates that starting in the 2026-27 school year, all high schools must offer a yearlong "ethnic studies" course. This course will focus on American history and the experiences of racialized communities, covering topics such as Native American and Indigenous history, Black and African American history, Asian American and Pacific Islander history, the Armenian Genocide, Arab American history, and Latin American history. The course will also aim to foster critical thinking skills and improve educational outcomes, and it will be classified as a social studies core credit and a graduation requirement for students graduating in 2030 and beyond.

Additionally, the bill establishes a student-led ethnic studies leadership council to oversee the implementation of the course requirements and support curriculum development. The council will consist of student representatives, teacher liaisons, and community organization representatives, and it will be convened by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. The bill encourages school districts to collaborate with grassroots organizations for teacher training and curriculum development, and it requires the department to coordinate efforts to build diverse educator pipelines. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.