TRENTON, N.J. (WCBS 880) — New Jersey public schools will now have Asian-Americans and Pacific Islander history and heritage implemented into curriculums.
On Tuesday, Gov. Murphy signed a bill that will ensure students in grades kindergarten through 12th will have an AAPI-inclusive requirement in New Jersey’s Student Learning Standards for Social Studies. Murphy also signed another legislation to establish the Commission for Asian American Heritage within the Department of Education.
“The members of our Asian American/Pacific Islander community have contributed so much to our state and nation,” Murphy said. “By teaching students about the history and heritage of our AAPI community, we can ensure that the diversity of our state is reflected in our curriculum and create a more tolerant and knowledgeable future for New Jersey. I am proud to sign these bills into law.”
The new requirement comes after a rise in attacks on Asian Americans since the COVID-19 pandemic. Advocates and supporters of the bill feel the increased visibility of the AAPI community will alleviate the hatred and bigotry exacerbated by the pandemic.
“Excluding the rich history of the AAPI community from our schools’ curriculum not only prevents students from gaining a full understanding of our nation’s history, but also opens the door for racial biases that can turn into violence and hatred,” said Assembly sponsors Raj Mukherji , Mila Jasey, Britnee Timberlake, and Sterley Stanley in a joint statement. “One of New Jersey’s best qualities is its diversity, which we should be highlighting in our schools. By expanding the K-12 curriculum to include lessons on the history and contributions of the AAPI community, we can help break down persisting negative stereotypes and show the over 140,000 Asian American and Pacific Islander students in our state that their stories and experiences matter.”
The new legislation follows a similar one passed in 2020 mandating an LGBTQ inclusive curriculum be adopted in public schools. In 2021, Murphy also signed a law which required schools to teach students about economic inequality and unconscious bias.
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