New Jersey New Inclusion Law
Educational Reform

On January 19, 2022, New Jersey became the second state in the nation to adopt a new inclusion law. This law requires the public school system to teach the Asian American and Pacific Islander community. Illinois Governor Pritzker signed the Teaching Equitable Asian American Community History Act on July 9, 2021.
The goal of this initiative is to provide a more inclusive education in the United States for diverse cultural communities.
AAPI ( Asian American Pacific Islander) education is now a mandate in New Jersey throughout grades K-12 in all public school districts. Beginning in the 2022–23 school year, this mandate will ensure the “contributions, history, and heritage” are included in the Student Learning Standards for Social Studies for all public school students. Curriculum standards will be developed through a newly formed Commission for Asian American Heritage in the state’s Department of Education.
“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,” Murphy said in a statement.
For further clarification, each school board will address the specifics of instructional time and lessons that would indicate a unit of study. In New Jersey, after the law is set, standards of performance are written. These curriculum standards serve as a strict guide to what teachers’ are to address in their classrooms. Then, the curriculum (daily lessons, materials, videos) is developed to directly bring the subject matter to light. In this way subject matter is clear, standards are met and teachers are directly responsible for the implementation.






