A number of countries maintain laws that require the presentation of information concerning actions of the government of Germany regarding Jews in its territory during the period of that government's control by the National Socialist (Nazi) German Worker's Party from 1933 to 1945, commonly referred to as the Holocaust. In the United States, laws of this kind are maintained by individual states and typically specify curriculum content and the ages of the pupils to which various portions of the curricula are to be presented.

Many of the particulars of conformance with these laws are specified or influenced by policies and pronouncements of the Task Force for International Cooperation on Holocaust Education, Holocaust Remembrance, and Holocaust Research. A country's membership in this organization, however, does not necessarily imply any legal mandate within the said country regarding Holocaust education.

Laws prohibiting "Holocaust denial" are maintained by many—but not all—of the same jurisdictions that have these laws. These laws apply to individuals and involve criminal punishment and therefore they are in all cases separate statutes.

Nations and U.S. states As of June 2026, laws mandating education in the Holocaust were on the books in Austria, France, Germany, Hungary, Israel, the Netherlands, Poland, Switzerland, Sweden, parts of the United Kingdom (Scotland does not have mandatory Holocaust education), and Australia. It is also mandatory in some of the provinces in Canada.

In the United States, the states of Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, Maine, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, and Wisconsin. In total, 23 states have mandatory Holocaust education.

Nation or U.S. state Year enacted Citation Key wording California 1985 Instruction shall provide a foundation for understanding ... human rights issues, with particular attention to the study of the inhumanity of genocide, slavery, and the Holocaust, and contemporary issues. Illinois 1989 105 ILCS 5/27-20.3 Every public elementary school and high school shall include in its curriculum a unit of instruction studying the events of the Nazi atrocities of 1933 to 1945. This period in world history is known as the Holocaust, during which 6,000,000 Jews and millions of non-Jews were exterminated. One of the universal lessons of the Holocaust is that national, ethnic, racial, or religious hatred can overtake any nation or society, leading to calamitous consequences. New Jersey 1991 Every board of education shall include instruction on the Holocaust and genocides in an appropriate place in the curriculum of all elementary and secondary school pupils.

The instruction shall enable pupils to identify and analyze applicable theories concerning human nature and behavior: to understand that genocide is a consequence of prejudice and discrimination: and to understand that issues of moral dilemma and conscience have a profound impact on life. The instruction shall further emphasize the personal responsibility that each citizen bears to fight racism and hatred whenever and wherever it happens. Florida 1994 F.S. 1003.42(2)(g) The history of the Holocaust (1933–1945), the systematic, planned annihilation of European Jews and other groups by Nazi Germany, a watershed event in the history of humanity, to be taught in a manner that leads to an investigation of human behavior, an understanding of the ramifications of prejudice, racism, and stereotyping, and an examination of what it means to be a responsible and respectful person, for the purposes of encouraging tolerance of diversity in a pluralistic society and for nurturing and protecting democratic values and institutions. New York 1994 Education Title 1 Art. 17, Sec. 801 The regents of the University of the State of New York shall prescribe courses of instruction in patriotism (and) citizenship and human rights issues, with particular attention to the study of the inhumanity of genocide, slavery, and the Holocaust, to be maintained and followed in all the schools of the state.Pennsylvania2014 SB 47 Each public school student shall receive mandatory instruction in the Holocaust, genocide and human rights violations from grade six through grade twelve. The instruction shall be integrated within the social studies and language arts courses of study required in accordance with the State Board of Education regulations. Michigan2016 Public Act No. 170Social studies curriculum for grades 8 to 12 includes age- and grade-appropriate instruction about genocide, including, but not limited to, the Holocaust and the Armenian Genocide. The legislature recommends a combined total of 6 hours of this instruction during grades 8 to 12.Rhode Island2016 2016-H 7488A The legislation requires each district to include in its curriculum a unit on the Holocaust and genocide for every student by the time he or she graduates. The subject could be taught in either middle school or high school, as the local district deems appropriate.Connecticut2018 Public Act 18-24 Each local and regional board of education shall include Holocaust and genocide education and awareness as part of the social studies curriculum for the school district.Kentucky2018 HB 128 Every public middle and high school's curriculum shall include instruction on the Holocaust and other cases of genocide.Texas2019 SB 1828 Holocaust Remembrance Week shall include age-appropriate instruction, as determined by each school district. Instruction shall include (1) information about the history of and lessons learned from the Holocaust; (2) participation, in person or using technology, in learning projects about the Holocaust; and (3) the use of materials developed or approved by the Texas Holocaust and Genocide Commission.Oregon2019 SB 664 Requires school districts to provide instruction about the Holocaust and genocide beginning with the 2020–21 school year.Colorado2020 HB 20 - 1336 Each school district Board of Education and charter school shall incorporate academic standards on Holocaust and genocide studies into an existing course that is currently a condition of high school graduation. Delaware2020 HB 318 This Act requires the Department of Education to establish and implement a curriculum on the Holocaust and genocide for students in grades 6 through 12. New Hampshire2020 SB 727 Knowledge of civics and government, economics, geography, history, and Holocaust and genocide education to enable them to participate in the democratic process and to make informed choices as responsible citizens.

Additionally, there will be established a commission to study best practices for teaching students how intolerance, bigotry, antisemitism, and national, ethnic, racial, or religious hatred and discrimination have evolved in the past and can evolve into mass violence and genocide, such as the Holocaust.Wisconsin2021 WI Act 30 The law requires that every school district incorporate the teaching of the Holocaust and other genocides into the social studies curriculum and is taught at least once in grades 5–8 and at least once in grades 9–12.Arkansas2021 SB 160 Beginning in the 2022–23 school year, Holocaust education shall be taught in all public schools in a manner that: (1) Generates an understanding of the causes, course, and effects of the Holocaust; (2) Develops dialogue with students on the ramifications of bullying, bigotry, stereotyping, and discrimination; and (3) Encourages tolerance of diversity and reverence for human dignity for all citizens in a pluralistic society.Arizona2021 HB 2241 The law requires instruction in the Holocaust and other genocides at least twice between 7th and 12th grades.Maine2021 LD 1644 The Maine Department of Education requires Holocaust, genocide, and African American studies in-state public school curricula.North Carolina2021 SB 105 Starting in the 2023–24 school year, middle and high schools will be required to integrate lessons about the Holocaust into English and social studies classes.Oklahoma2022 SB 1671 Starting in the 2022–23 school year, students in grades 6–12 in Oklahoma will be required to have Holocaust education.Nebraska2022 LB 888 Requires the State Board of Education to adopt academic standards for education on the Holocaust and other acts of genocide beginning in the 2022–23 school year.Missouri2022 SB 681 Requires classes from sixth grade through high school to designate a week to teach about the Holocaust, using materials developed by the Missouri Holocaust Education and Awareness Commission.

Education plans by state The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum has opened a form so that state governments can have their education plan websites available for patrons. Of the 50 states, 23 have education plans and opted to have them posted on the museum website. The states involved, with links to their plans are:

Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Illinois Indiana Kentucky Maine Michigan Missouri New Hampshire New York North Carolina Oklahoma Rhode Island Tennessee Texas Virginia Wisconsin

According to the museum, further resources about these education plans are available on the Association of Holocaust Organizations website.

Efficacy of Holocaust education practice According to an article released by ASU in August of 2021, Governor Doug Ducey signed into law HB 2241, which mandated student education on topics of genocide a minimum of two times from 7th through 12th grades. The vice president of the Phoenix Holocaust Association, Janice Friebaum, stated that there has not been a comprehensive review of state laws that mandate Holocaust education, to establish their quality of education and generally successful implementation. The ASU article also brought to light a 2020 study by the Pew Research Center demonstrating that less than half of Americans were able to ascertain that Hitler came into political power through democratic processes. Three out of ten Americans stated they did not know how many Jewish people were killed, one in ten overestimated the number, and 15% believe that fewer than 3 million Jewish people lost their lives. Experts in the holocaust and World War II events seem to see a "rise in ignorance and anti-Semitic attacks" (Lindsey Stillman, World War II Studies, Master’s Student) and cite it as the reason they wish to conduct some form of systematic quality control over the education programs on a large scale to ensure their effectiveness.

Heal Act

On December 22, 2022, a new piece of legislation was introduced to the House. The Heal Act, or the Holocaust Education and Antisemitism Lessons Act, sought to conduct a systematic examination of all Holocaust education efforts across public schools nationwide. It seeks to ensure that Holocaust–focused education is effective, thorough, and accurate across the country. Additionally, it will identify all states and local school districts that do and do not require education on these topics. One of the main focuses of the motivation for this legislation is the means for combatting antisemitism and Holocaust denial.

It was introduced to the House with over 60 cosponsors and was a firmly bipartisan effort. This bill is being co-led by Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ–5), the Co-Chair of the House Bipartisan Task Force for Combating Antisemitism Congresswoman Kathy Manning (NC-6), House Foreign Affairs Committee chairman Michael McCaul (TX-10), and Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA–1). The official bill can be found here and the official press release can both be viewed online.