South Carolina State Standards

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South Carolina Holocaust & Genocide Education Summary

Legal Status

  • Mandated by law: No
  • South Carolina established the **Council on the Holocaust** in 1989 (Title 1, Chapter 29) to develop Holocaust education programs and coordinate annual observances [oai_citation:0‡scstatehouse.gov](https://www.scstatehouse.gov/code/t01c029.php?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
  • The Council works with the State Department of Education but there is no statewide mandate requiring schools to teach Holocaust or genocide content

How the Holocaust Appears in South Carolina’s Standards

Holocaust education is not mandated. Schools and districts may include it at their discretion and can draw on programs and materials from the Council.

Supplemental Teaching Tools Encouraged

  • Materials and educator grants from the South Carolina Council on the Holocaust
  • Programs such as traveling trunks, survivor testimony, and memorial events coordinated by the Council
  • External resources from the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum and the Echoes & Reflections curriculum

Teaching Notes for South Carolina Educators

AreaGuidance
Mandated by LawNo—statewide instruction not required
Council OversightSouth Carolina Council on the Holocaust (est. 1989, Title 1‑29)
Curriculum InclusionOptional; programs available at district discretion
Resources AvailableGrants, traveling trunks, memorial observances

Conclusion

South Carolina does not legally require Holocaust education in public schools. However, the South Carolina Council on the Holocaust—created in 1989—provides programs, resources, and support for districts that choose to include it. Educators can draw on Council-led offerings, survivor testimony, curricula like Echoes & Reflections, and museum materials to guide age-appropriate instruction.

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.