(TRENTON) – On Tuesday, Governor Phil Murphy signed two measures into law that will help bolster education in our schools and teach students about the historical and modern-day influence of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI).
One law (formerly bill S-4021/A-6100) requires school districts to provide instruction on the history and contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders as part of the implementation of New Jersey Student Learning Standards in Social Studies. The second law (formerly bill S-3764/A-3369) will establish the Commission on Asian American Heritage in the New Jersey Department of Education.
Assemblywoman Ellen J. Park (D-Bergen) issued the following statement:
“As a Korean American and the first Korean woman to serve in the New Jersey General Assembly, I am pleased to see that Governor Murphy is taking concrete steps to further the mission of equity and inclusion for the AAPI population in the State. With these new laws officially in place, we now have a seat at the table, ownership over our own history, and are able to illuminate the many contributions of the AAPI population. While this is an important first step, we have much more to do and we will continue to work toward enhancing the lives of AAPI residents in New Jersey.”