Missouri State Standards

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Missouri Holocaust Education Summary

Legal Status

  • Mandated by law: Yes
  • Enacted as the **Holocaust Education and Awareness Commission Act** (RSMo § 161.700) on June 30, 2022 [oai_citation:0‡revisor.mo.gov](https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=161.700&utm_source=chatgpt.com)
  • Established a permanent Holocaust Education Commission and designated the second week in April as “Holocaust Education Week”
  • Requires age-appropriate Holocaust instruction for students in 6th grade and above

How the Holocaust Appears in Missouri’s Standards

Middle & High School (Grades 6–12)

  • Instruction must include historical context—how and why the Holocaust happened
  • Students must participate in learning projects (e.g., virtual or in-person) about the Holocaust
  • Schools must use materials from the Missouri Commission, U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, or St. Louis Kaplan Feldman Holocaust Museum
  • Department of Elementary & Secondary Education will pilot a curriculum framework in 2023–24 and expand statewide by 2025–26
  • Each district must provide professional development plans for teachers delivering Holocaust instruction

Supplemental Teaching Tools Encouraged

  • Curriculum resources and support from the Missouri Holocaust Education & Awareness Commission
  • Materials from the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum
  • Kaplan Feldman Holocaust Museum educational tools and exhibits
  • Survivor testimony videos and primary source documents

Teaching Notes for Missouri Educators

AreaGuidance
Mandated by LawYes – RSMo § 161.700, effective June 2022
Included in CurriculumYes – Grades 6–12, integrated during Holocaust Education Week
Grade LevelsMiddle school and high school (Grades 6–12)
Implementation PhasePilot in 2023–24, full rollout by 2025–26
Professional DevelopmentRequired by districts; Commission & DESE provide structure

Conclusion

Missouri mandates Holocaust education for students in grades 6–12 through the 2022 law establishing the Holocaust Education & Awareness Commission. Districts must teach historical context, facilitate learning projects, and use approved resources during designated Holocaust Education Week. A statewide curriculum framework will launch after a pilot phase, and districts must provide teacher development to ensure effective instruction.

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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.