Bill > HB3919

This bill updates Oregon's academic content standards for Holocaust and genocide studies in schools, requiring instruction to include not just historical events but also ongoing acts of genocide and mass violence. The legislation expands the existing Holocaust education requirements to provide a more comprehensive and contemporary approach to teaching about genocide. Specifically, the bill modifies the instructional objectives to include analyzing current global events, understanding the causes of genocide, promoting respect for cultural diversity, and exploring human rights protections. The new standards aim to help students critically examine patterns of human behavior, understand the mechanisms of discrimination, and learn about transitional justice. The bill mandates that school districts implement these updated academic content standards by the 2026-2027 school year, with the Department of Education required to provide professional development to teachers and administrators to support effective implementation. The changes are designed to give students a deeper, more nuanced understanding of genocide, its historical contexts, and its ongoing global relevance, while also developing students' critical thinking skills about human rights, prejudice, and social responsibility.

Education

https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2025R1/Measures/Overview/HB3919