LANSING, Mich. June 26, 2025 — This week, several Senate and House legislators introduced the “Teach MI History” legislation, ensuring students across the state are taught inclusive history lessons reflecting the many diverse communities that call our state home. Today, Senate Bills 453-455 were introduced in the Senate, sponsored by Sens. Stephanie Chang (D-Detroit), Darrin Camilleri (D-Trenton), and Erika Geiss (D-Taylor). The House versions of these bills, House Bills 4687–4689, were introduced yesterday by Reps. Jason Hoskins (D-Southfield), Veronica Paiz (D-Harper Woods), and Matt Koleszar (D-Plymouth). This legislation was crafted using feedback from a diverse group of stakeholders and marks a major step forward in establishing a more complete story of Michigan’s collective history.
“All Michigan children deserve to see themselves reflected in the history taught in their classrooms,” said Sen. Chang, one of the sponsors of the bill package. “By teaching the triumphs and struggles of all communities, including communities of color, we strengthen the knowledge and critical thinking skills of our students. We can build greater cultural understanding and lessen the hate and intolerance in our communities — starting with our young people.”
“This legislation is about telling the whole truth, not just the parts of history that are comfortable,” said Rep. Hoskins. “When we teach the full story of Michigan — the triumphs and the injustices; the joys and the pains — we help build a more honest and compassionate future. Our children deserve an education that reflects the state they live in and the people who built it. A history that reflects them. I’m proud to stand behind Teach MI History.”
Specifically, these bills would:
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Senate Bill 453 (Camilleri)/House Bill 4687 (Hoskins): Ensure that each school district requires one unit of age- and grade-appropriate instruction covering communities from the following cultural and ethnic backgrounds are incorporated in the district’s yearly history curriculum: Black; Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI); Latino Americans, Hispanic Americans, and Caribbean Americans; Indigenous People; Middle Eastern, Chaldean Americans, and North Africans; Jewish Americans; and European Americans.
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Senate Bill 454 (Geiss)/House Bill 4689 (Paiz): Create a cultural history advisory board within the Michigan Dept. of Education (MDE) that would include members from several ethnic backgrounds as well as K-12 educators, a member from an organization that represents either school boards or superintendents, representatives of labor organizations serving teachers, and members representing higher education. The advisory board will provide recommendations to the department regarding the toolkit for educators.
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Senate Bill 455 (Chang)/House Bill 4688 (Koleszar): Direct the Michigan MDE to adopt and provide schools with professional development resources related to the units of instruction and implicit bias training.
“As the only Afro-Caribbean-Latina member of the Michigan Legislature, I understand the deep impact that culturally inclusive, accurate education can have on our students and communities,” said Sen. Geiss. “This legislation continues our commitment to ensuring every Michigan student learns a more complete and honest history — one that reflects the voices and experiences of all people. The cultural history advisory board will help ensure educators have the tools to teach with inclusivity and intention. It will also empower students to see themselves in the curriculum, foster cross-cultural understanding, and help break down implicit biases and discriminatory rhetoric.”
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and a wave of anti-Asian hate, many states have passed legislation requiring the teaching of Asian American history, including Illinois, Rhode Island, Florida, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Delaware. In Michigan, Teach MI History bill sponsors have intentionally chosen a multiracial approach while thoughtfully incorporating feedback from educators, community members, and national organizations.
“As lawmakers, we have a responsibility to ensure that every Michigan student receives an education that reflects the full story of our state and country — one that recognizes the contributions, cultures, and histories of all communities,” said Rep. Paiz. “Our bill package is a step toward building an inclusive and accurate curriculum that prepares our young people not just to succeed academically, but also to lead with empathy and understanding of a diverse world. This legislation is about truth, equity, and ensuring every student sees themselves in the story of Michigan.”
“During a time period when our communities’ collective histories are being erased, it is now more important than ever to ensure that our stories are being taught so that future generations of our state’s youth have the opportunity to learn Michigan’s fully diverse, honest and more complete history,” said Jasmine Rivera, Co-Executive Director of Rising Voices.
The Senate and the House bill packages have been referred to the Senate Committee on Education and House Committee on Government Operations, respectively. For more information on Teach MI History, click here.