In 2022, Governor Parson signed into law the Missouri Holocaust Education and Awareness Commission Act (SBs 681 & 662), a bill sponsored by Rep. Adam Schwadron (R) and Sen. Brian Williams (D) with bipartisan support mandating Holocaust education in Missouri schools.
The second week in April shall be designated as “Holocaust Education Week”. Each school district shall determine the minimum amount of instruction time that qualifies as a unit of study in order to provide age-appropriate Holocaust instruction to elementary school students not lower than 6th grad and high school students.
The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education is to develop a curriculum framework of instruction for studying the Holocaust using materials developed or supported by the Missouri Holocaust Education and Awareness Commission, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C., and the Kaplan Feldman Holocaust Museum in St. Louis, Missouri. The Department shall make this curriculum framework available through a pilot program in consultation with the Missouri Holocaust Education and Awareness Commission beginning in the 2023-24 school year with all school districts participating by the 2025-26 school year. Each participating school district shall provide a plan of professional development for teachers to ensure such teachers are adequately prepared to provide accurate instruction.
For information on upcoming professional development workshops, please refer to the News and Events page