Arkansas State Standards

  • 0

As of 2025, Arkansas does not have a legal mandate requiring Holocaust education, but the topic is explicitly included in the Arkansas Social Studies Academic Standards for both middle and high school students. The standards encourage instruction on the Holocaust within the broader study of World War II, genocide, and human rights.

Arkansas Holocaust Education Summary

Legal Status

  • No formal legislative mandate on Holocaust instruction in Arkansas.
  • Included in the Arkansas Department of Education (ADE) standards.
  • The Holocaust is taught as part of World History and U.S. History units.

How the Holocaust Appears in Arkansas’s Standards

Middle School (Grades 7–8) – World History & Civics

Students learn about:

  • The rise of authoritarian regimes (like Nazi Germany)
  • World War II and its consequences
  • The systematic persecution of Jews and other groups
  • The Nuremberg Trials and their impact on international law

High School (Grades 10–11) – World History & U.S. History

In more advanced courses, students are expected to:

  • Analyze the ideological and political causes of the Holocaust
  • Understand the moral and ethical challenges presented by genocide
  • Explore the aftermath and efforts at justice, including the Nuremberg Trials
  • Discuss how the Holocaust influenced modern concepts of human rights and civic responsibility

Supplemental Teaching Tools Encouraged

Though not mandated, Arkansas 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 Arkansas Educators

AreaGuidance

Mandated by Law

No

Included in curriculum

Yes, under WWII and genocide units

Grade Levels

Middle and high school

Instructional Flexibility

High – school/district level discretion

Professional Development

Encouraged but not required

Conclusion

While Arkansas does not legally require Holocaust education, the state’s academic standards explicitly include it in both middle and high school. Teachers are expected to introduce students to the historical facts and ethical implications of the Holocaust within the context of World War II and global human rights.

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.