Utah State Standards

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Utah Holocaust & Genocide Education Summary

Legal Status

  • Mandated by law: No
  • Utah has adopted non-binding concurrent resolutions (SCR 001 in 2021 and HCR 012 in 2020), encouraging the State Board of Education and local districts to include Holocaust and genocide instruction [oai_citation:0‡le.utah.gov](https://le.utah.gov/~2021/bills/static/SCR001.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
  • These resolutions highlight age-appropriate genocide education beginning as early as 5th grade and continuing through high school

How the Holocaust Appears in Utah’s Standards

  • State social studies standards include Holocaust and genocide education from grade 5 through grade 12
  • Curriculum integrates discussions on prejudice, bystander roles, and civic responsibility in multiple grade levels

Supplemental Teaching Tools Encouraged

  • UEN (Utah Education Network) provides lesson plans, primary sources, survivor testimony resources, and materials aligned with state standards
  • Districts are encouraged to use U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum materials, Echoes & Reflections curricula, and local speaker programs

Teaching Notes for Utah Educators

AreaGuidance
Mandated by LawNo – resolutions only (SCR 001, HCR 012)
Included in CurriculumYes – K–12 social studies include genocide/Holocaust content
Grade LevelsGrades 5–12
Instructional FlexibilityHigh – districts choose materials and scope
Professional DevelopmentProvided by UEN and local partners

Conclusion

While Utah does not legally require Holocaust or genocide education, it formally encourages it through state resolutions passed in 2020 and 2021. State standards and the Utah Education Network support integrated, age-appropriate instruction for grades 5–12, focusing on historical understanding, ethical thinking, and civic awareness. Educators are urged to use a mix of national curricula, survivor testimony, and local materials to create meaningful lessons.

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.