Illinois State Standards

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Illinois Holocaust Education Summary

Legal Status

  • Mandated by law: Yes
  • Required under Illinois School Code, 105 ILCS 5/27‑20.3
  • First state to mandate Holocaust instruction in 1990; law expanded in 2005 to include other genocides and strengthened in 2010
  • Illinois Holocaust & Genocide Commission established by Public Act 096‑1063 to support implementation

How the Holocaust Appears in Illinois’ Standards

Elementary & Middle School

  • Every public elementary school and high school must teach a unit on the Nazi atrocities (1933–1945), including the Holocaust and other genocides
  • Additional units required on other genocides, including Native American, Armenian, Ukrainian Famine, Cambodia, Bosnia, Rwanda, and Sudan

High School

  • Unit of instruction must highlight: Nazi racial ideology, the Holocaust, broader genocides, and lessons on “never again”
  • State Superintendent provides instructional materials and timelines; districts define unit duration

Supplemental Teaching Tools Encouraged

Educators may enhance instruction with:

  • Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center resources (teaching trunks, virtual exhibits, survivor materials)
  • Echoes & Reflections curriculum
  • U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum materials
  • Survivor testimony and primary source documents

Teaching Notes for Illinois Educators

AreaGuidance
Mandated by LawYes (105 ILCS 5/27‑20.3; P.A. 094‑0478, 2005; Act 096‑1063, 2010)
Included in CurriculumYes, for all public elementary and high schools
Grade LevelsAll grades (Districts determine placement; must include at least one unit)
Instructional FlexibilityMedium — Districts choose timing/duration; State supplies materials
Professional DevelopmentSupported by Illinois Holocaust & Genocide Commission and Museum resources

Conclusion

Illinois requires Holocaust and genocide education in public schools across all grade levels. Districts must teach at least one unit on the Holocaust and additional units on other genocides. The state provides instructional materials, and educators are encouraged to use Museum resources and structured curricula to enrich learning through survivor testimony, primary sources, and ethical reflection.

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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.