Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to amend and pass a bill that requires Maine K-12 school curriculum to include Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander History.

Highlights:

• Specifies that American history, government, and citizenship, including the United States Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, the importance of voting, and the privileges and responsibilities of citizenship, must be taught in and required for graduation from all elementary and secondary schools, both public and private (Sec. 1).

• Requires that African American studies and Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander history must be included in the review of content standards and performance indicators of the system of learning results conducted (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that Maine history, including the Constitution of Maine, Maine geography and environment, and the natural, industrial, and economic resources of Maine and Maine's cultural and ethnic heritage, must be taught (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that a required component of Maine studies is Wabanaki studies, and Wabanaki studies may be taught as a component of other content areas, as appropriate, including but not limited to the content areas of English language arts, mathematics, science, and fine arts (Sec. 1). 

• Specifies that Wabanaki studies must address the following topics (Sec. 1):

• Wabanaki governments and political systems and their relationship with local, state, national, and international governments;

• Wabanaki cultural systems and the experience of tribal people throughout history;

• Wabanaki territories; and

• Wabanaki economic systems.

• Specifies that Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander history  must be considered, but is not limited to:

• The history of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders in the State, the region, and the United States; and

• The contributions of:

• Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders toward advancing civil rights from the 19th century to the present day;

• Individual Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders in government, the arts, humanities, and sciences; and

• Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities to the economic, cultural, social, and political development of the United States.

• Specifies that this Act takes effect July 1, 2029 (Sec. 3).

Full Bill Text