North Carolina’s Gizella Abramson Holocaust Education Act was passed in November 2021. With the passing of this Act, the North Carolina General Assembly asserted that “Knowledge of the Holocaust is essential to provide students with the fundamental understanding of geography, history, and political systems necessary to make informed choices on issues that affect individuals, communities, states, and nations.”¹ The Gizella Abramson Holocaust Education Act is a manifestation of their commitment to this assertion. This North Carolina law is based on the intent articulated in the federal Never Again Education Act, passed by the U.S. Congress in 2020. The Never Again Education Act encourages the development and dissemination of accurate, relevant, and accessible resources to promote understanding about how and why the Holocaust happened, along with the development, dissemination, and implementation of principles of sound pedagogy and best practices for educators for teaching about the Holocaust. The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) is legislatively responsible for overseeing the implementation of the provisions of the Gizella Abramson Holocaust Education Act. In carrying out this responsibility NCDPI has collaborated with the N.C. Council on the Holocaust, the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, NCCAT, local universities, and other Holocaust education experts to curate and develop curriculum resources for both social studies and ELA that support the teaching of the Holocaust and other genocides.

¹ General Assembly of North Carolina. Session Law 2021-180 Senate Bill 105 (2021).

Holocaust Resources and Professional Learning Opportunities

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