Texas State Standards

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Texas Holocaust & Genocide Education Summary

Legal Status

  • Mandated by law: Yes
  • Required under **SB 1828 (2019)**, codified at **Texas Education Code § 29.9072**, mandating an annual “Holocaust Remembrance Week” in public schools K–12
  • The **Texas Holocaust, Genocide, and Antisemitism Advisory Commission (THGAAC)** develops or approves educational materials for this week
  • **HB 3466 (2023)** directs THGAAC to survey districts’ compliance, while **SB 735 (2025)** would expand collaboration and grant programs around Holocaust instruction

Program Requirements

  • Schools must provide **age-appropriate instruction** during the designated week
  • Instruction must include:
    • History and lessons of the Holocaust
    • Participation in learning projects (virtual or in-person)
    • Use of THGAAC-approved resources
  • The **2024 Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS)** incorporate Holocaust and genocide topics within World Geography and World History standards

Implementation & Oversight

  • The **Governor-designated week** aligns with International Holocaust Remembrance Day (Jan 27–31)
  • THGAAC and TEA provide materials, speakers, museum partnerships, and educator workshops statewide
  • Survey mandates and proposed SB 735 aim to enhance reporting, regional collaboration, grants, and educator training

Supplemental Teaching Tools Encouraged

  • THGAAC-approved materials and learning kits (traveling trunks, virtual tools)
  • Resources from the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum and Echoes & Reflections curriculum
  • Partnerships with Holocaust museums such as the **Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum**

Teaching Notes for Texas Educators

AreaGuidance
Mandated by LawYes – SB 1828 (2019), TEC § 29.9072
Instruction PeriodHolocaust Remembrance Week (Jan 27–31 annually)
Age GroupsAll K–12 grades, with age-appropriate lessons
Curriculum FocusHistory, moral lessons, hands-on projects, approved resources
Oversight & ReportingTHGAAC surveys (HB 3466); SB 735 would expand grants and collaboration
Teacher SupportWorkshops, webinars, museum collaborations

Conclusion

Texas law mandates annual Holocaust Remembrance Week in public schools for students in kindergarten through twelfth grade. The Texas Holocaust, Genocide, and Antisemitism Advisory Commission provides vetted materials, project guidance, and educator training. Recent legislation enhances accountability and aims to increase grants and regional museum partnerships. The curriculum integrates Holocaust and genocide concepts within broader academic standards, supported by TEKS-aligned content and powerful resources like testimonies and museum learning tools.

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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.