New Jersey students will learn Latino and Hispanic history under a bill Gov. Phil Murphy signed into law Tuesday.
The law requires the State Board of Education to adopt new social studies learning standards that include sections on Latino and Hispanic history and calls on local school boards to insert lessons on the same in their curriculums.
“Through today’s bill signing, we are cementing the legacy of New Jersey’s Latino and Hispanic communities,” Murphy said in a statement. “By teaching students about their neighbors, we are raising a more informed next generation of future leaders in the Garden State.”
The law, which cleared the Senate in a unanimous vote and saw a single no vote in the lower chamber from Assemblyman Sean Kean (R-Monmouth), requires the Department of Education to provide sample learning activities that could be used to implement the requirement, which applies from kindergarten to 12th grade.
The lessons could appear as early as the 2026-2027 school year.
“By integrating Latino and Hispanic American history into the core curriculum, we acknowledge the ever-evolving diversity of America and affirm the need for an education system that is not only equitable in knowledge but also instills pride in all of its students,” said bill sponsor Assemblyman Julio Marenco (D-Hudson).
The instruction requirement is the latest in a series enacted by New Jersey lawmakers. Other statutes require education on the contributions of LGBT people, the history and contributions of Black Americans, and instruction on the Holocaust.
The state’s student learning standards also require instruction on civics and diversity and inclusion.
“Representation matters, and as New Jersey’s Latino population continues to grow, it’s important that our students learn a history that reflects the diverse voices and contributions that make up our state and nation,” said Assemblywoman Eliana Pintor Marin (D-Essex), who represents Newark. “In my district, this growth is part of our daily life.”
