Massachusetts State Standards

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Massachusetts Holocaust & Genocide Education Summary

Legal Status

  • Mandated by law: Yes
  • Required under **Bill H 692 (2021)**, now codified as **Chapter 98 of the Acts of 2021**
  • Commencement: required in all public school districts beginning with the 2022–23 school year
  • Establishes a **Genocide Education Trust Fund** to support curriculum development, teacher training, and district grants

How the Holocaust Appears in Massachusetts’s Standards

Middle & High School (Grades 6–12)

  • Every school district must provide instruction on the history of genocide, including the Holocaust, consistent with the state History & Social Science Framework
  • Districts determine implementation timing, but instruction must occur during “appropriate times” in grades 6–12

Support & Funding

  • The **Genocide Education Trust Fund** finances curriculum materials, professional development, and district grants
  • Grants prioritize underserved districts, bias-affected communities, and first-time program implementers

Supplemental Teaching Tools Encouraged

  • Materials from the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum
  • Echoes & Reflections curriculum
  • Survivor testimony videos and primary-source documents

Teaching Notes for Massachusetts Educators

AreaGuidance
Mandated by LawYes – H 692 (2021); Chapter 98; effective 2022–23
Included in CurriculumYes – genocide instruction required Grades 6–12
Grade LevelsGrades 6–12
Instructional FlexibilityMedium – Districts choose when during grades 6–12
Professional DevelopmentFunded via state grants and Trust Fund

Conclusion

Massachusetts requires all public school districts to teach Holocaust and genocide education for students in grades 6–12. The legislation mandates state funding to support curriculum development, teacher training, and grants via a dedicated Trust Fund. Districts must integrate content consistent with state standards and can choose the timing within the grade range to reach students effectively.

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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.