A California study commissioned to examine Holocaust and genocide education in K-12 public schools found little consistency in following the state’s standards.
Just 26% of the state’s local education agencies (LEAs) — school districts and publicly funded charter schools — have formal education programs about the topic in place.
This was one of several key findings in “Holocaust and Genocide Education in California: A Study of Statewide Context and Local Implementation,” a comprehensive report released on Jan. 27, coinciding with International Holocaust Remembrance Day.
Holocaust education in public schools is perceived as a way of combating antisemitism, which has become a more pressing issue for the Jewish community following the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas massacre and a global spike in anti-Jewish hatred. From individual acts that target Jewish students to a state-sponsored ethnic studies curriculum that initially excluded Jews, denigrated Israel and downplayed antisemitism, the state’s Jewish community leaders have increasingly turned their attention to what’s happening inside the classroom.
One of these leaders is Anita Friedman, executive director of the S.F.-based Jewish Family and Children’s Services and its Holocaust Center. Friedman described the findings in the report as an important tool for charting a path forward.
“We believe, and the leadership in the state believe, that education of children is the only way to stop hatred and discrimination against Jews,” Friedman told J. in a phone interview. “The real war about antisemitism is happening in K-12 education. Even though a lot of attention is paid to college campuses, the real war is for the hearts and minds of children.”
WestEd, a research, development and service agency, authored the nearly 200-page report, in cooperation with the Governor’s Council on Holocaust and Genocide Education, a group of experts in the field convened by Gov. Gavin Newsom.
Friedman co-chairs the governor’s council, alongside California Attorney General Rob Bonta, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond and state Sen. Henry Stern (D-Los Angeles).
Since 1985, California has required public schools to teach about the Holocaust and genocide. But significant barriers have prevented Holocaust curriculum from being taught on a widespread and systematic basis, according to the report.
The survey sought to examine a representative sample of California public schools, including in urban, suburban and rural areas, ranging in size, while creating an inventory of Holocaust education programs throughout the state.
Teachers in rural and low-income areas often face the greatest hurdles in accessing Holocaust education resources, the report found, including due to a lack of funding and of “professional learning opportunities.”
Success in bringing Holocaust and genocide education into the classroom, the study said, is “often dependent on individual educator initiative.”
“The findings show that while some districts have developed robust programs, the overall landscape remains fragmented,” the report stated.
The LEA survey included 559 respondents, representing 29% of the 1,914 local agencies in the state. Of the 413 responses submitted by school districts and the 146 submitted by charter schools, only 26% — or 143 respondents — reported having a Holocaust and genocide education program in place.
In the Bay Area, 25% of the local agencies that responded to the survey indicated that they offer Holocaust and genocide education.
In the local agencies with Holocaust and genocide education programs in place, the most frequently covered topics were the Holocaust, the Armenian genocide and the mass killing and forced land removal of Native Americans, including those in California.
According to the report, LEAs emphasized the need for state-level support to ensure “equitable, high-quality Holocaust and genocide education statewide.”
The Governor’s Council on Holocaust and Genocide Education was created in 2021 as part of an effort to stop rising antisemitism and bigotry across the state. The council was tasked with identifying instructional resources to teach students across California about the Holocaust and other acts of genocide and providing young people with the tools to respond to antisemitism and bigotry.
Parallel to the formation of the council was the launch of the California Teachers Collaborative for Holocaust and Genocide Education. The statewide network includes 14 organizations such as the JFCS Holocaust Center, the Cambodian Genocide Resource Center, the Uyghur Genocide Online Resource Center and Holocaust Museum LA.
The teachers collaborative provides educational resources and professional development to California’s educators in the hope that middle school and high school students receive impactful Holocaust and genocide education.
A website launched with input from Silicon Valley leaders — one that curates lesson plans and virtual learning opportunities for teachers — is cited in the study as a “significant stride,” and an example, Friedman said, of a “private-public partnership” working toward providing high-quality education.
The teachers collaborative also facilitates in-person events for educators. One such event took place on Jan. 27 in Sacramento, drawing more than 90 school administrators.
The study offers 10 recommendations for strengthening Holocaust and genocide education in California. These include more effectively communicating California’s vision for such education, revising the state’s history and social studies content standards, and increasing direct funding to districts and schools.
Newsom said he hopes the report can make a difference.
“In California, hate is unacceptable, and the shocking decline in awareness among young people about the Holocaust and other acts of genocide is especially alarming,” he said in a statement. “I look forward to reviewing the Council’s recommendations and ensuring that California continues to be a beacon for tolerance, empathy, and education.”