Bill
H 604
Requires including APIDA history in K-12 curricula with state support and annual district assessments to improve anti-racist, multi-perspective education.
Status and timeline
- Introduced: February 27, 2025
- Current status: Bill reported favorably by committee and referred to the House Ways and Means
- Related actions: Hearing was scheduled for September 16, 2025; Section 5 effective dates apply to the 2025-2026 school year for key provisions
Purpose and intent
- The bill seeks to integrate Asian Pacific Islander Desi American (APIDA) history into Massachusetts public school curricula.
- It aims to provide a comprehensive, accurate narrative of APIDA contributions and experiences within the broader history of the United States, with emphasis on multiple perspectives and anti-racist education.
Key provisions
1) Curriculum inclusion (Section 1)
- Starting with the 2025-2026 school year, APIDA history and related discussion must be included in regular curriculum and inquiry.
- Instruction should cover both local and national APIDA histories and their relevance to the United States.
- Local customization is allowed, but instruction must comply with criteria in Section 4.
2) APIDA History Education Trust Fund (Section 2)
- Creates the APIDA History Education Trust Fund to support APIDA history education across elementary, middle, and high schools.
- Fund sources: gifts, grants, donations; revenue from fines for hate crimes or civil rights violations; and interest earnings.
- Purpose: promote teaching of human rights issues and APIDA history.
- Administered by the Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education.
3) Curriculum framework updates (Section 3)
- Adds a new Section 99 to Chapter 71:
- DESE will update the History and Social Science Curriculum Frameworks to include APIDA history.
- APIDA history covers political, economic, cultural, and social aspects and notable contributions across science, technology, culture, arts, business, law, medicine, education, politics, economics, etc.
- All school districts must provide APIDA history instruction aligned to the updated standards.
- Instruction should promote diverse perspectives, address prejudice and racism, and support anti-racist aims.
- DESE and the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents will assist with high-quality curricular materials.
- DESE will provide teacher training for APIDA history instruction (in person or via remote formats).
- Not every year of schooling is required to have APIDA history, but it should be used at appropriate times consistent with state standards and local implementation.
4) Oversight, assessment, and improvement (Section 4)
- DESE will annually assess whether districts meet the updated APIDA curricular standards.
- If a district is not meeting standards, the district superintendent must collaborate with history and social science departments to improve, potentially using funds from the APIDA History Education Trust Fund.
5) Effective date (Section 5)
- Sections 1, 2, and 4 take effect for the school year beginning after July 1, 2025.
Who is affected
- Students in Massachusetts public schools: exposure to APIDA history as part of broader social studies education.
- School districts, superintendents, and history/social science departments: required alignment to updated standards and participation in annual assessments.
- DESE and the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents: supervision, materials, and educator training.
- APIDA communities: opportunity for greater recognition and inclusion of their history in state curricula.
Overall impact
- Establishes formal APIDA history as a curricular component and creates dedicated funding to support its teaching.
- Encourages inclusive, multi-perspective history education and anti-racist pedagogy across public schools.
- Introduces ongoing state oversight with annual district assessments and targeted improvements where gaps are identified.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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