The law is aimed at combating discrimination.
Illinois Governor Jay Pritzker signed a law according to which the state’s public schools will be required to introduce Asian-American history lessons into their curriculum.
According to the Democratic governor, informing children about the contribution of Asian Americans to the history of the United States is a step to combat discrimination.
The Association of Asian Americans Fighting for Equality presented a bill in early 2020. The initiative received wide support after the mass murder in Atlanta, most of the victims of which were Asians, as well as due to the wave of attacks on Asian Americans, which became more frequent after the outbreak of the pandemic.
The bill obliges schools to teach children Asian-American history starting from the 2022-2023 academic year. The curriculum will include the struggle of Asians for civil rights, their contribution to the arts and science of the United States, as well as to the economic and cultural development of the country.
Illinois has become the first state in the United States where Asian-American history lessons will become a mandatory part of the school curriculum.
