States at a Glance

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​Common core standards for history and social studies differ by states, as does the inclusion of the treatment of Americans of Japanese descent during World War II in various curricula. As of this writing, Japanese American incarceration is excluded from the social-studies standards of 16 states: Arizona, Colorado*, Florida**, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Texas, and Washington State. Inclusion of the curriculum is unclear in another 10-12 states, where standards are only loosely defined. More than half of the states in the union do not include the incarceration as part of their standard social-studies curricula.

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And now the great news...

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States such as Connecticut, Louisiana, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Virginia, and West Virginia have designed thoughtful learning modules—either including the topic in multiple grade levels, engaging students in multi-faceted discussions regarding the treatment of Japanese Americans during World War II, or featuring the incarceration as part of a larger conversation on civics and the ethical responsibilities of global superpowers on the world stage.

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How does your home state treat the topic in its educational standards?

 

More good news...

*Many states—including those such as Wyoming and Colorado that housed major concentration camps—have rich state-specific educational resources available. 

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**Florida recently passed a bill that would require the teaching of Asian American and Pacific Islander history, including the incarceration during WWII, in all public schools.