Earlier Today, the Colorado House of Representatives unanimously passed House Bill 1336, which requires Holocaust & Armenian Genocide education as a condition for High School graduation in public schools in Colorado. (House Bill 1336 – Holocaust and Genocide Studies in Public Schools), per the Armenian National Committee – Western Region.

The bill was sponsored by Representative Dafna Michaelson Jenet, Representative Emily Sirota, Senator Steve Fenberg, and Senator Dennis Hisey, as well as “honorary Armenian” lawmakers Representative Daneya Esgar, HD 46 and Senator Dominick Moreno. The ANCA-WR thanked them for “championing this bill and making sure that our community was included in the process from the very beginning.”

The ANCA-WR thanked their partners, the Coalition against Global Genocide and Jewish Colorado for working hand in hand with ANCA Colorado to make the cause of genocide education a reality. Along with the ADL – Anti-Defamation League, for making sure that the State of Colorado has the funds to implement the law.

Next steps: third reading (final/formal vote) in the House; Senate committees; Senate second and third readings; Governor’s signature.

Holocaust And Genocide Studies In Public Schools (House Bill 1336) Summary:

The bill requires the state board to adopt standards related to Holocaust and genocide studies on or before July 1, 2021.

The bill requires each school district board of education and charter school to incorporate the standards on Holocaust and genocide studies adopted by the state board into an existing course that is currently a condition of high school graduation for school years beginning on or after July 1, 2022.

The bill requires the department of education to create and maintain a publicly available resource bank of materials pertaining to Holocaust and genocide courses and programs, which must be available for access by public schools no later than July 1, 2021.

The full text of Colorado House Bill 1336 can be found here.

The Editor