Illinois Holocaust Education Summary
Legal Status
- Mandated by law: Yes
- Required under Illinois School Code, 105 ILCS 5/27‑20.3
- First state to mandate Holocaust instruction in 1990; law expanded in 2005 to include other genocides and strengthened in 2010
- Illinois Holocaust & Genocide Commission established by Public Act 096‑1063 to support implementation
How the Holocaust Appears in Illinois’ Standards
Elementary & Middle School
- Every public elementary school and high school must teach a unit on the Nazi atrocities (1933–1945), including the Holocaust and other genocides
- Additional units required on other genocides, including Native American, Armenian, Ukrainian Famine, Cambodia, Bosnia, Rwanda, and Sudan
High School
- Unit of instruction must highlight: Nazi racial ideology, the Holocaust, broader genocides, and lessons on “never again”
- State Superintendent provides instructional materials and timelines; districts define unit duration
Supplemental Teaching Tools Encouraged
Educators may enhance instruction with:
- Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center resources (teaching trunks, virtual exhibits, survivor materials)
- Echoes & Reflections curriculum
- U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum materials
- Survivor testimony and primary source documents
Teaching Notes for Illinois Educators
| Area | Guidance |
|---|---|
| Mandated by Law | Yes (105 ILCS 5/27‑20.3; P.A. 094‑0478, 2005; Act 096‑1063, 2010) |
| Included in Curriculum | Yes, for all public elementary and high schools |
| Grade Levels | All grades (Districts determine placement; must include at least one unit) |
| Instructional Flexibility | Medium — Districts choose timing/duration; State supplies materials |
| Professional Development | Supported by Illinois Holocaust & Genocide Commission and Museum resources |
Conclusion
Illinois requires Holocaust and genocide education in public schools across all grade levels. Districts must teach at least one unit on the Holocaust and additional units on other genocides. The state provides instructional materials, and educators are encouraged to use Museum resources and structured curricula to enrich learning through survivor testimony, primary sources, and ethical reflection.