An Act To Integrate African American Studies into American History Education
Maine Legislature, Session 130, LD 1664
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs
Sponsors: TALBOT ROSS, HICKMAN, EVANS
Amends: 20-A MRSA §4706

Legislative Document
No. 1664
H.P. 1235
House of Representatives, May 5, 2021
An Act To Integrate African American Studies into American 
History Education
Received by the Clerk of the House on May 3, 2021.  Referred to the Committee on 
Education and Cultural Affairs pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed pursuant to 
Joint Rule 401.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative TALBOT ROSS of Portland.
Cosponsored by Senator HICKMAN of Kennebec and
Representative: EVANS of Dover-Foxcroft.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  20-A MRSA §4706, as amended by PL 2009, c. 313, §§8 and 9, is further 
amended to read:
§4706.  Instruction in American history, African American studies, Maine studies and 
Maine Native American history
Instruction in American history, African American studies, government, citizenship 
and Maine studies must be aligned with the parameters for essential instruction and 
graduation requirements established under section 6209.
1.  American history.  American history, government and citizenship, including the 
Constitution of the United States, the Declaration of Independence, the importance of 
voting and, the privileges and responsibilities of citizenship, and African American studies, 
including African American cultural systems and the experience of African Americans 
throughout American history, must be taught in and required for graduation from all 
elementary and secondary schools, both public and private.  African American studies must 
be included in the review of content standards and performance indicators of the system of 
learning results conducted in accordance with section 6209, subsection 4.
2.  Maine studies.  Maine history, including the Constitution of Maine, Maine 
geography and environment and the natural, industrial and economic resources of Maine 
and Maine's cultural and ethnic heritage, must be taught.   A required component Required 
components of Maine studies is are Maine Native American studies and Maine African 
American studies, which must be included in the review of content standards and 
performance indicators of the learning results conducted in accordance with section 6209, 
subsection 4.  The Maine Native American studies must address the following topics:
A.  Maine tribal governments and political systems and their relationship with local, 
state, national and international governments;
B.  Maine Native American cultural systems and the experience of Maine tribal people 
throughout history;
C.  Maine Native American territories; and
D.  Maine Native American economic systems.
Sec. 2.  Resource development; advisory group; curriculum audit; report.  
The Department of Education is responsible for fulfilling the requirements of this section.
1.  Development of resources.  The department shall identify and make available to 
schools resources and materials for teaching African American studies, including Maine 
African American studies, pursuant to this Act.
2.  Advisory group.  The department shall, within 30 days after the effective date of 
this Act, convene a volunteer advisory group to collect information and prepare materials 
for the teaching of African American studies and Maine African American studies.  The 
advisory group must include scholars of African American history and culture; 
representatives from African American civil rights organizations in the State, African 
American history and cultural organizations and the Gerald E. Talbot Collection at the 
University of Southern Maine; the Maine State Archivist; and members of the public with 
personal experience that would inform the collection of information and preparation of 
materials under this section.  The department shall include at least one member from the 
advisory group in any group or committee convened to review the parameters for essential 
instruction and graduation requirements for social studies pursuant to Title 20-A, section 
6209, subsection 4.
3.  Guidance; best practices; exemplar modules.  The department shall develop 
guidance, best practices and exemplar modules to support the integration of African 
American studies and Maine African American studies into the instruction of American 
history and Maine history.
4.  Curriculum audit.  The department shall develop a process that supports and 
enables a local school administrative unit to conduct an internal audit of its curriculum to 
ensure an equitable representation of African American voices and an accurate historical 
account of African American history and culture.
5.  Reporting.  The department shall submit a report on the progress of the 
implementation of this Act to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having 
jurisdiction over education matters no later than April 1, 2022.
Sec. 3.  Effective date. That section of this Act that amends the Maine Revised 
Statutes, Title 20-A, section 4706 takes effect July 1, 2023.
SUMMARY
This bill includes instruction on African American studies and Maine African 
American studies, including African American cultural systems and the experience of 
African Americans throughout American 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 African American studies and Maine African American studies and 
to develop and provide guidance, best practices and exemplar modules to local school 
administrative units to integrate African American studies and Maine African American 
studies 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 African American voices and an accurate historical 
account of African American history and culture.  The bill also requires the department to 
submit a report on the progress of the implementation of this Act to the joint standing 
committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over education matters no later than April 
1, 2022.