MN HF3434

Students beginning 9th grade in the 2024-2025 school year and later must complete a semester-long ethnic studies course to graduate from high school.

Ethnic studies is defined as the critical and interdisciplinary study of race, ethnicity, and indigeneity focusing on experiences of people of color, analyzing race and racism as social, cultural, and political forces.

The Commissioner of Education must adopt statewide academic standards for ethnic studies curriculum and create a model curriculum including topics such as Latinx studies, African American studies, Asian American studies, Indigenous or First Nation studies, or introduction to ethnic studies.

An Ethnic Studies Task Force with 25 members representing students, teachers, parents, community members, and college faculty must develop ethnic studies standards and recommendations by October 31, 2023, and approve or recommend changes to the model curriculum by July 1, 2024.

School districts and charter schools must provide ethnic studies instruction in elementary and middle schools by the 2025-2026 school year and conduct needs assessments with students, parents, and community members to determine implementation priorities.