Holocaust Education and Antisemitism Lessons Act

To require a study on Holocaust education efforts of States, local educational agencies, and public elementary and secondary schools, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Holocaust Education and Antisemitism Lessons Act 2. Study and report on holocaust education (a) Study Beginning not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum (referred to in this Act as the Director (1) all States; (2) a nationally representative sample of local educational agencies; and (3) a representative sample of public elementary and secondary schools served by the local educational agencies being studied. (b) Elements In conducting the study under subsection (a), the Director shall— (1) determine whether States and local educational agencies being studied require Holocaust education as part of the curriculum taught in public elementary schools and secondary schools; (2) identify States and local educational agencies being studied that have optional Holocaust education as part of the curriculum taught in public elementary schools and secondary schools; (3) identify each State’s standards and the requirements of the local educational agencies being studied relating to Holocaust education and summarize the status of the implementation of such standards and requirements, including— (A) the existence of a centralized apparatus at the State or local level that collects and disseminates Holocaust education curricula and materials; (B) the existence of Holocaust education professional development opportunities for pre-service and in-service teachers; (C) the involvement of informal educational organizations in implementing Holocaust education, including museums and cultural centers; (D) an assessment of the challenges or gaps that may prevent educators from fulfilling Holocaust education requirements; (E) the identification of training and resources needed to support educators teaching about the Holocaust; and (F) the adoption of United States Holocaust Memorial Museum resources by— (i) entities at the State or local level that disseminate Holocaust education curricula; or (ii) local Holocaust museums and centers; (4) determine— (A) the range of intended outcomes from a Holocaust education unit at the State and local educational agency level; and (B) the methods teachers are using that result in successfully achieving intended learning outcomes, which may include— (i) in-class discussion; (ii) educational activities conducted outside the classroom, including homework assignments and experiential learning involving State and local organizations, such as museums and cultural centers; (iii) project based learning; (iv) educational materials and activities that are developmentally appropriate and taught through a trauma-informed lens; and (v) integration of lessons from the Holocaust across the curriculum and throughout the school year; (5) identify the types of instructional materials used to teach students about the Holocaust, including the use of primary source material; (6) identify— (A) in what disciplines the Holocaust is being taught; (B) the amount of time allotted in the required curriculum to teach about the Holocaust; and (C) the comprehensiveness of the Holocaust education curriculum taught in public elementary schools and secondary schools, as indicated by the extent to which the curriculum addresses all elements and aspects of the Holocaust and is based on reliable educational resources, such as resources provided by the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum; and (7) identify the approaches used by public elementary schools and secondary schools to assess outcomes using traditional and nontraditional assessments, including assessments of— (A) students’ knowledge of the Holocaust; and (B) students’ ability to identify and analyze antisemitism, bigotry, hate, and genocide in historical and contemporary contexts. (c) Report (1) In general Following the completion of the study under subsection (a), the Director shall prepare and submit to Congress a report on the results of the study. (2) Deadline for submittal The report under paragraph (1) shall be submitted not later than the earlier of— (A) 180 days after the completion of the study under subsection (a); or (B) 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act. (d) Definitions In this Act: (1) ESEA terms The terms elementary school local educational agency secondary school State 20 U.S.C. 7801 (2) Holocaust The term Holocaust Public Law 116–141 36 U.S.C. 2301 (3) Holocaust education The term Holocaust education (A) to improve students’ awareness and understanding of the Holocaust; (B) to educate students on the lessons of the Holocaust as a means to raise awareness about the importance of preventing genocide, hate, and bigotry against any group of people; and (C) to study the history of antisemitism, its deep historical roots, the use of conspiracy theories and propaganda that target the Jewish people, and the shape-shifting nature of antisemitism over time. (4) Project based learning The term project based learning

Summary: Holocaust Education and Antisemitism Lessons Act This bill directs the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum to study and report on Holocaust education efforts in states, local educational agencies (LEAs), and public elementary and secondary schools. Among other elements, the study must (1) determine whether states and LEAs require Holocaust education as part of the curriculum taught in public elementary and secondary schools, (2) identify the standards and requirements relating to Holocaust education, and (3) identify the types of instructional material used to teach students about the Holocaust.