New York State Lawmakers Pass Holocaust Education Bill

The New York State Senate unanimously passed a bill on Wednesday that will ensure that schools across New York are teaching students about the Holocaust, as required by law.

The bill, which unanimously passed the State Assembly earlier this week, will now be sent to Gov. Kathy Hochul for consideration.

The legislation authorizes the New York State Education Department to survey schools to determine if they are teaching students about the Holocaust appropriately at each grade level, as required under existing law. It will also examine whether a school district is meeting learning standards about the Holocaust.

Districts not in compliance will be required to submit a “corrective-action plan” on how they expect to comply with learning standards. The survey’s findings will be accessible to legislative leaders.

The bill was sponsored by State Sen. Anna M. Kaplan and Assemblywoman Nily Rozic.

After the bill’s passing in the Senate, Kaplan said that “with anti-Semitism on the rise and Holocaust misinformation exploding around the world, it’s never been more important that we learn the lessons of the Holocaust and ensure our next generation knows about our history—no matter how dark or difficult the conversation may be. It’s why I’ve fought tirelessly to pass the Holocaust Education Bill, and I’m thrilled to be able to pass it today so that we can ensure we ‘Never Forget.’ ”