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
| Area | Guidance |
|---|---|
| Mandated by Law | Yes – 24 P.S. § 15‑1554 (Act 70, 2014; updated 2024) |
| Instruction Required | Yes – integrated K–12 for grades 6–12 |
| Instructional Time | Minimum 7 hours annually in grades 6–12 |
| Professional Development | State-provided in-service training for all relevant teachers |
| Compliance & Transparency | Board 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.