THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	2225
THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2022
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

relating to education.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that there has been a sharp increase in discrimination against Asians in the United States fueled by a pandemic that has been unreasonably linked to Asians.  Amid a rise in anti-Asian sentiment, the legislature finds that the current K-12 school curriculum is inadequate in teaching Asian American history, particularly in teaching the impact of historical discrimination of the United States against Asians such as the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act.  Oftentimes, Asian-Americans are held as the "model minority", a mythos that only serves to justify discriminatory practices against other minorities and ignores the countless sacrifices of early Asian immigrants.

     The legislature further finds that there are many benefits to teaching the events of Asian American history.  Teaching students about the contributions of Asian American communities to the economic, cultural, social, and political development of the United States allows students to feel empowered and to understand their ethnic identities as well as their personal civic duty.  The legislature also finds that in addition to teaching students about Asian American history, this curriculum should include a unit about how race shapes power structures and lived experience to further teach students about their civic duty.

     The purpose of this Act is to require:

     (1)  The board of education to include in its curriculum a unit of instruction studying the events of Asian American history;

     (2)  The superintendent of education to prepare and make available to all school complex areas instructional material that shall be the guidelines for development of the Asian American history education in each school;

     (3)  The regional superintendent to monitor each school district's compliance with the Asian American history curriculum requirements during their annual compliance visit;

     (4)  That each school complex area determine the minimum amount of instructional time that qualifies as a unit of instruction in Asian American history; and

     (5)  Asian American history to be taught in all schools commencing with the 2022-2023 school year.

     SECTION 2.  The board of education shall include in its curriculum a unit of instruction studying the events of Asian American history.  The curriculum shall include the history of Asian Americans in Hawaii; contributions of Asian Americans toward advancing civil rights from the 19th century onward; and contributions of Asian American communities to the economic, cultural, social, and political development of the United States.

     SECTION 3.  (a)  The superintendent of education shall prepare and make available to all school complex areas instructional material, including but not limited to instructional material established by the Public Broadcasting Service, that shall be the guidelines for development of the Asian American history education in each school.

     (b)  The superintendent of education shall monitor each school complex area's compliance with the Asian American history curriculum requirements during their annual compliance visit.

     SECTION 4.  (a)  Each school complex area shall determine the minimum amount of instructional time that qualifies as a unit of instruction in Asian American history.

     (b)  Commencing with the 2022-2023 school year, every public elementary, middle, and high school shall include a unit of instruction in Asian American history in their curriculum.  Each school may provide this unit of instruction through an online program or course.

     SECTION 5.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

 

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

 

 

Report Title:

Board of Education; Asian American History; Curriculum

 

Description:

Requires the Board of Education to include in its curriculum a unit of instruction studying the events of Asian American history.  Requires the Superintendent of Education to prepare and make available to all school complex areas instructional material that shall be the guidelines for development of the Asian American history education in each school and monitor compliance.  Requires that each school complex area determine the minimum amount of instructional time that qualifies as a unit of instruction in Asian American history.  Requires Asian American history in be taught in each school commencing the 2022-2023 school year.

 

 

 

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