Asian American History Curriculum Bill Supported by 45 State Assembly Members in New York

Recently, the “Asian American History Curriculum Act” (2025-A04638) proposed by New York State Assemblywoman Grace Lee has gained more support in the state legislature. Since the beginning of this year’s legislative session, 16 additional supporters have joined, bringing the total number of Assembly members endorsing the bill to 45, including 16 members of the State Assembly’s Education Committee.

This bill calls for the Commissioner of Education to develop history and civic impact-related courses on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (AANHPI) and promote their adoption by school districts. However, New York State currently lacks a unified AANHPI history curriculum, leading to a severe lack of representation of Asian history in classrooms.

Assemblywoman Grace Lee stated, “Facing attacks on immigrants and Asians from the federal government, there is a greater need than ever to educate students about the history of Asian Americans. I’m very grateful for the recognition and support of my colleagues in the state legislature in pushing forward the AANHPI curriculum bill. Protecting the Asian community must start in the classroom, enabling the younger generation to understand and respect Asian Americans as an integral and significant part of American society.”

Lee believes that this lack exacerbates misconceptions and negative stereotypes about the Asian community, fueling the rising trend of anti-Asian hate crimes since the pandemic. The goal of this bill is to incorporate AANHPI history into the curriculum of New York public schools, allowing students to gain a deeper understanding of Asian culture and heritage, promoting inclusivity and social identity within the Asian community.