Maryland State Standards

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Maryland Holocaust Education Summary

Legal Status

  • Mandated by law: Yes (effective 2024–25 school year)
  • Enacted under the “Educate to Stop the Hate Act” (HB 1241 / SB 1058) passed by the Maryland General Assembly
  • Requires the State Board of Education to develop age‑appropriate, interdisciplinary Holocaust instruction guidelines for grades K–12
  • State Department of Education to revise curriculum frameworks for elementary (grades 4–5), middle (grades 6–7), and high school English/history courses

Scope & Content Requirements

  • Instruction must span K–12, with grade-level appropriate content:
    • Elementary (Grades 4–5): Introduction to Holocaust concepts
    • Middle School (Grades 6–7): Study of the roots of antisemitism leading to the Holocaust
    • High School (U.S. History & Modern World History): In-depth analysis of Holocaust origins, course, consequences, and American response
  • All Maryland public schools and state-funded nonpublic schools must implement the revised Holocaust curriculum starting in the 2024–25 school year

Supplemental Teaching Tools Encouraged

To support effective instruction, educators are encouraged to use:

  • Materials from the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum
  • Echoes & Reflections curriculum
  • Access grants via the Holocaust Education Assistance Grant Program (effective July 1, 2025)
  • Survivor testimony videos and primary source documents

Teaching Notes for Maryland Educators

AreaGuidance
Mandated by LawYes – Educate to Stop the Hate Act (HB 1241/SB 1058), effective 2024–25
Included in CurriculumYes – K–12, with specific requirements by grade band
Grade LevelsGrades 4–12 (elementary through high school)
Instructional FlexibilityMedium – state sets guidelines; districts manage implementation
Professional DevelopmentGrants available and DOE guidance for teacher preparation

Conclusion

Maryland law mandates Holocaust education across grades 4–12, requiring revised and enhanced instruction beginning in the 2024–25 school year. The curriculum spans from foundational concepts in elementary school to comprehensive, analytical studies in high school. Educators are supported with state-developed guidelines, grant-funded resources, and national curricula drawing on survivor experiences and historical documentation to promote civic reflection and informed citizenship.

Select a State below, to check the Holocaust educational standards:

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.