Arizona State Standards

  • 0

As of 2025, Arizona does not mandate Holocaust education by state law, but it is strongly encouraged through the state’s History and Social Science Standards. The Holocaust is included as a required learning concept in both middle school and high school, particularly within the context of World War II, human rights, and civic responsibility.

Arizona Holocaust Education Summary

Legal Status

  • No formal legislative mandate on Holocaust instruction in Arizona.
  • Explicitly included in state academic standards.
  • Required as part of World History standards for grades 7 and 10.

How the Holocaust Appears in Arizona’s Standards

Middle School (Grade 7 – World History)

Students are expected to study the Holocaust as a key event in 20th-century history. Instruction includes:

  • The rise of totalitarian regimes (e.g., Nazi Germany)

  • Antisemitism and propaganda

  • The implementation of the Final Solution

  • The impact on Jewish communities and other targeted groups

High School (Grade 10 – World History/Modern Global Studies)

Deeper analysis is expected, including:

  • Moral and ethical implications of the Holocaust

  • The evolution of human rights concepts post-Holocaust

  • The role of bystanders, upstanders, and perpetrators

Supplemental Teaching Tools Encouraged

Though not mandated, Arizona teachers often use:

  • U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum materials
  • Echoes & Reflections curriculum
  • TheLastOnes.education, which offers:
    • Customizable lesson plans
    • Survivor testimony videos
    • Age-appropriate discussion guides

Teaching Notes for Arizona Educators

AreaGuidance

Legislative Mandate

No

Standards Coverage

Middle and High School

Grade Levels

Grade 7 & Grade 10

Curriculum Flexibility

High – determined by district/school

Use of external resources

Recommended

Professional DevelopmentOptional – offered via national partners

Conclusion

While Arizona has not legislated Holocaust education as a standalone requirement, it is formally included in the state’s social studies standards and required at key grade levels. Teachers are encouraged to use vetted resources to foster historical understanding, ethical reflection, and civic awareness.

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.