Pennsylvania State Standards

  • 0

Pennsylvania Holocaust & Genocide Education Summary

Legal Status

  • Mandated by law: Yes
  • Required under Pennsylvania Statutes Title 24 P.S. § 15‑1554 (Act 70 of 2014), updated in 2024 to require instruction beginning in the 2025–26 school year [oai_citation:0‡legis.state.pa.us](https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/PN/Public/btCheck.cfm?billBody=H&billNbr=1054&billTyp=B&pn=1145&sessInd=0&sessYr=2025&txtType=PDF&utm_source=chatgpt.com)
  • Holocaust, genocide, and human rights-violations instruction is mandatory within social studies and language arts for grades 6–12

Scope & Content Requirements

  • Curriculum guidelines include:
    • Holocaust history (Third Reich, camps, resistance, postwar trials)
    • Study of other genocides (e.g., Rwanda), human rights violations, antisemitism, racism, and civil rights infringements
  • At least **7 instructional hours** each school year for grades 6–12, integrated across required courses

Implementation & Oversight

  • The Department of Education sets and updates guidelines (next update due by 2027–28), in consultation with community experts
  • Provides in-service training sessions for all instructors in teaching Holocaust, genocide, and human rights content
  • State Board of Education monitors compliance; must report biennially, and may enact enforcement regulation if <90% of schools comply
  • As of 2017, 90–93% of districts provided some instruction; new legislation offers transparency—districts must publish textbooks and curriculum summaries online by 2025–26

Supplemental Tools & Resources

  • Pennsylvania Department of Education guidelines and training
  • Holocaust, Genocide & Human Rights Education Initiative (Penn State)—teacher support and online modules
  • National curricula such as U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum and Echoes & Reflections
  • Primary sources, survivor testimonies, local museum partnerships

Teaching Notes for Pennsylvania Educators

AreaGuidance
Mandated by LawYes – 24 P.S. § 15‑1554 (Act 70, 2014; updated 2024)
Instruction RequiredYes – integrated K–12 for grades 6–12
Instructional TimeMinimum 7 hours annually in grades 6–12
Professional DevelopmentState-provided in-service training for all relevant teachers
Compliance & TransparencyBoard monitors; districts must publish curriculum details online

Conclusion

Pennsylvania law mandates Holocaust, genocide, and human rights education for students in grades 6–12 starting in the 2025–26 school year, with at least seven hours of instruction. The Department of Education provides materials, training, and academic guidelines, while the State Board oversees compliance and ensures transparency. Support is available through initiatives at Penn State and national curricula incorporating survivor testimony and primary sources.

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.