Bill > LD957

This bill mandates the integration of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) history into Maine's educational curriculum, requiring the Department of Education to take several specific actions. The bill expands existing curriculum requirements to include comprehensive AANHPI history instruction, which will cover topics such as civil rights contributions, notable individual achievements, and the communities' roles in the United States' economic, cultural, social, and political development. To implement these changes, the department must convene a volunteer advisory group of scholars, civil rights representatives, and cultural experts to collect information and prepare teaching materials. The department is also tasked with developing guidance, best practices, and example teaching modules, as well as creating a process for local school administrative units to audit their curricula to ensure equitable representation and accurate historical accounts of AANHPI experiences. The bill requires the department to submit a progress report to the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs by April 1, 2030, with the curricular changes set to take effect on July 1, 2029. This legislation aims to provide a more inclusive and comprehensive approach to teaching American and Maine history by highlighting the contributions and experiences of AANHPI communities.

Education

https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/display_ps.asp?LD=957&snum=132