US News
State school standards for teaching September 11 vary across the country
Instructional requirements range from strict mandates to optional district policies, according to Associated Press reporting.
The short version
- State guidelines for teaching the September 11 terrorist attacks vary significantly across the United States.[Associated Press]
- Florida and Alabama enforce specific grade-level standards and time requirements for public school instruction.[Associated Press]
- Other states, such as Alaska and Illinois, leave instruction optional or leave curriculum choices to local school boards.[Associated Press]
Key facts
- Florida law requires at least 45 minutes of annual instruction related to September 11 in select middle and high school classrooms.[Associated Press]
- Alabama requires social studies students in fifth and 11th grades to study the September 11 attacks and evaluate the national response.[Associated Press]
- Arizona altered its educational requirements to limit mandatory September 11 instruction to seventh through 12th grades.[Associated Press]
- Alaska maintains no statewide mandate or formal policy requiring schools to teach about September 11.[Associated Press]
- Illinois categorizes September 11 as a commemorative holiday that schools may choose to observe through lessons or activities without any mandate.[Associated Press]
Sources
Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.
- How every US state approaches 9/11 history in schoolsAssociated Press · Wire: associated-press