SKOKIE, Ill. - Illinois is the first state in the country to mandate a unit of Asian American history to be taught in public schools.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed House Bill 376, the Teaching Equitable Asian American History or TEAACH Act, at Niles West High School in suburban Skokie.
Beginning with the 2022-23 school year, every public elementary school and high school will be required to include a unit of instruction studying the events of Asian American history.
âWe are setting a new standard for what it means to truly reckon with our history,â Pritzker said in a statement. âItâs a new standard that helps us understand one another, and ultimately, to move ourselves closer to the nation of our ideals.â