We’ve written frequently about Illinois’ progressive criminal justice policies, and today we bring you another new bill, this time focused on education. The state is now the first in the US to mandate that Asian American history be part of its public school curriculum.
The legislation was spearheaded by Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Chicago and mandates that schools launch the curriculum addition by the 2022-2023 school year. Specifically, schools must teach “the contributions of Asian American communities to the economic, cultural, social, and political development of the United States.”
After a year of increased anti-Asian attacks and harassment, this legislation is more important than ever, but beyond that, it effectively addresses the history and role that Asian Americans have played in the US for generations, which is all too often overlooked in US school systems.
