Louisiana State Standards

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Louisiana Holocaust Education Summary

Legal Status

  • Mandated by law: Yes
  • Required under Louisiana HB 16 (2022), now codified at R.S. 17:280.1 and R.S. 17:3996(B)(67) [oai_citation:0‡legis.la.gov](https://www.legis.la.gov/legis/ViewDocument.aspx?d=1244139&utm_source=chatgpt.com)
  • Mandates age‑appropriate instruction on World War II and the Holocaust for students in grades 9–12, incorporated into existing courses (e.g., American History)
  • Requires in‑service training or professional development for teachers responsible for delivering this instruction

Scope & Content Requirements

  • Instruction must include:
    • History of World War II and the Holocaust, covering Nazi Germany, concentration camps, antisemitism, persecution of Jews and others, resistance, and the Nuremberg Trials
    • The impact of personal responsibility and civic engagement during WWII and the Holocaust
    • The connection between intolerance (national, ethnic, racial, religious) and genocide
    • The role of U.S. Armed Forces—including African American and Asian American service members—in defeating Nazi Germany and liberating camps
    • The internment of Japanese Americans during WWII in the U.S.
  • Mandates that schools make free curriculum materials available, such as those from the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, Echoes & Reflections, Yad Vashem, and USC Shoah Foundation

Supplemental Teaching Tools Encouraged

Educators are encouraged to use:

  • Curricula from the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, Yad Vashem, Echoes & Reflections, USC Shoah Foundation
  • Free curriculum materials provided by the Louisiana Department of Education or partner organizations
  • Survivor testimony, primary documents, and structured reflection on personal responsibility and prejudice

Teaching Notes for Louisiana Educators

AreaGuidance
Mandated by LawYes – HB 16 (2022), effective school year 2022‑23
Included in CurriculumYes, grades 9–12, within existing social studies courses
Grade LevelsHigh school (grades 9–12)
Instructional FlexibilityMedium – courses determined by districts, but content specified
Professional DevelopmentRequired teacher training on Holocaust & WWII instruction

Conclusion

Louisiana law mandates Holocaust and WWII instruction for all high school students in grades 9–12. The standards require structured units incorporating history, moral inquiry, and civic engagement, supported by free curriculum materials. Teacher training is required to ensure effective delivery.

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Leslie Benitah is a journalist, filmmaker, and third-generation Holocaust survivor dedicated to preserving memory and com- bating historical denial through storytelling. Holding a PhD in Journalism from the Sorbonne, she began her career as a journalist, later becoming editor-in-chief, and eventually serving as Executive Producer for TF1, France’s leading network, where she helped shape primetime content for millions of viewers.

After moving to Miami in 2006, she ran a major French- language publication before returning to film, directing critically acclaimed documentaries and collaborating with top production companies for over 20 years.

Driven by activism and education, Leslie co-founded The Last Ones—a groundbreaking documentary series that has amassed millions of views across social media and is used as an official educational tool in schools worldwide. Featuring over 150 survivor testimonies filmed across multiple continents, The Last Ones bridges past and present, ensuring younger generations remain engaged with Holocaust history. Leslie frequently speaks in schools, advocating for education as the most powerful tool against misinformation and hate.