Bill Summary – HB 122 (2026 Regular Session, Kentucky)
Purpose and intent
- Establishes requirements to broaden historical instruction in public middle and high schools.
- Specifically targets incorporation of African history and Native American history into non-advanced placement world history, world civilization, and United States history courses beginning with the 2027-2028 school year.
Key provisions
1) African history instruction (non-AP world history/world civilization)
- Beginning with the 2027-2028 school year, any world history or world civilization course offered by a public middle or high school that is not an AP course must include instruction on African history relevant to the time period covered.
- Examples of required African civilizations include: Kush, Kongo, Punt, Benin, Zulu, Berber, Mutapa, Zimbabwe; Mali, Songhai, Carthage, Ghana, Asante, Ethiopian, Aksumite, and Egyptian Empires.
2) Native American history instruction (non-AP United States history)
- Beginning with the 2027-2028 school year, any United States history course offered by a public middle or high school that is not an AP course and includes instruction on the founding of the United States must also include instruction on Native American culture and history before and after the founding.
- Required focus areas include Indigenous peoples across: Eastern Woodlands, Great Basin, Plains, Southwest, Mission Indians, Northwest Coast, Alaska, and Pacific Islands.
3) Collaboration and development of elective courses
- The Kentucky Department of Education must collaborate with:
- The Kentucky Center for African-American Heritage to develop an elective high school course offering in African history.
- The Kentucky Native American Heritage Commission to develop an elective high school course offering in Native American history.
4) Administrative standards and guidelines
- The Department must promulgate administrative regulations establishing academic standards for:
- African history instruction (in collaboration with the Kentucky Center for African-American Heritage).
- Native American history instruction (in collaboration with the Kentucky Native American Heritage Commission).
5) Curriculum development and alignment
- Local school districts’ superintendents must determine curricula for courses (per KRS 160.345) that include the mandated instruction and align with the established academic standards.
6) Supporting materials and professional development
- The Department must develop:
- Recommended curricula for African history instruction aligned to standards.
- Historical instruction guidelines to help schools implement standards.
- Professional development materials to prepare middle and high school teachers to deliver African history instruction.
- The Department must likewise develop:
- Recommended curricula for Native American history instruction aligned to standards.
- Historical instruction guidelines for Native American history instruction.
- Professional development materials for teachers delivering Native American history content.
Who is affected
- Public middle and high schools in Kentucky, specifically:
- Non-AP World History/World Civilization courses required to teach African history.
- Non-AP United States History courses required to teach Native American history.
- Students enrolled in these courses beginning with the 2027-2028 school year.
- School districts, administrators, and teachers responsible for curriculum development and instruction.
- State agencies and commissions involved in developing standards, curricula, and professional development (Department of Education; Kentucky Center for African-American Heritage; Kentucky Native American Heritage Commission).
Procedural and timeline aspects
- Effective date for new content requirements: beginning with the 2027-2028 academic year.
- Regulatory actions: The Kentucky Department of Education must promulgate administrative regulations establishing academic standards for the new African history and Native American history instruction.
- Collaborative development: The department must work with designated heritage organizations to develop elective course offerings, curricula, guidelines, and professional development materials.
- Local implementation: Superintendents must determine curricula in alignment with the new standards, with guidance and resources provided by the Department.
Potential implications and considerations
- Educational impact: Students would receive broader exposure to African and Native American histories as part of general history coursework, potentially expanding cultural literacy and understanding of historical contexts.
- Resource needs: Implementation will require development of standards, curricula, teacher training, and instructional materials; districts may need to adjust staffing, scheduling, and course offerings to accommodate new content.
- Equity and representation: The bill aims to address gaps in historical instruction by ensuring diverse histories are included in required coursework.
