PUBLIC ACT 170 of 2016

SUMMARY:
Public Act 170 of 2016
Genocide and Holocaust Education

Curriculum and Assessment

Under Public Act 170 of 2016, the board of a school district or charter school must ensure that its school's social studies curriculum for grades 8 to 12 include age- and grade-appropriate instruction about genocide, including but not limited to the Holocaust, and the Armenian genocide, beginning in the 2016-2017 school year.

The statute does not preclude a school district or public school academy from including instruction in other subject areas.

The statute "recommends" a combined total of six hours of such instruction during grades 8 to 12.

The law requires the State Board of Education to ensure that the recommended model core academic curriculum content standards for history in grades 8 to 12 include learning objectives concerning genocides, including but not limited to the Holocaust and the Armenian genocide.

Beginning with assessments conducted during the 2016-2017 school year, the state superintendent of public instruction is required to ensure that the Michigan Merit Examination social studies component, and the M-Step and any successor state assessment for social studies, as appropriate, include questions related to the learning objectives in the model core concerning genocides, including the Holocaust, and the Armenian genocide.

Governor's Council on Genocide & Holocaust Education

Public Act 170 of 2016 creates a 15-member Governor's Council on Genocide and Holocaust Education, appointed by the governor. Subject to the availability of private funding, the governor appoints the council within 60 days after the bill is enacted into law.

The law requires the Governor's Council on Genocide and Holocaust Education to do all of the following:

• Identify sources of strategies and content for enhancing genocide education to students;

• Advise school leaders about these strategies and content; • Identify programs and resources to train teachers, and share these programs with school leaders;

• Promote genocide education within the schools and general population of Michigan (to include coordinating events and education that appropriately memorialize the victims of the Holocaust, the victims of the Armenian genocide, and the victims of other genocides);

• Secure private funding for the Council (to include applying for and receiving grants and gifts);

• Carry out other tasks to meet its goals in providing genocide education; and

• Submit an annual report to the legislature on the progress and status of the council.

The Governor's Council on Genocide and Holocaust Education is an advisory body only. As such, there is no right or obligation on the part of the state or its subdivisions, officials, or employees to implement the findings or recommendations of the council, unless further legislation is enacted that specifically authorizes implementation of those findings and recommendations.