Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders have made substantive contributions to the state of Arizona and our country.  As far as our state’s curriculum is concerned, however, Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities and their rich histories of accomplishments and contributions within our nation simply do not exist. In a state with over 400,000 Asian American and Pacific Islander residents and expansive local histories, including two Japanese American incarceration camps during WWII and the establishment of Arizona Public Services (APS), these minimal mentions are not enough.

SB1301 takes a measured and responsible approach to fixing this. It does not mandate a standalone course, impose new graduation requirements, or burden educators with unfunded mandates. Instead, it ensures that AANHPI histories are integrated at some point during a student’s academic career, allowing educators and local experts to determine how best to deliver that content. This is about recognizing reality. About telling the truth. And about affirming that all Americans, regardless of background, belong in our national story.