Table 2 Examples of state actions that demobilize critical historical content (Updated December 30, 2022).
From: Demobilizing knowledge in American schools: censoring critical perspectives
State | Government Body Implementing Restrictions | State Action Example(s) Selected excerpts of specific teaching restrictions listed government action |
AL | State Board of Education Resolution: “Preservation of Intellectual Freedom and Non-Discrimination in Alabama Public Schools” | “concepts that impute fault, blame, a tendency to oppress others, or the need to feel guilt or anguish to persons solely because of their race or sex.” |
FL | Legislature SB 148 Stop W.O.K.E. Act | “classroom instruction and curriculum may not be used to 534 indoctrinate or persuade students to a particular point of view inconsistent with the principles of this subsection or state 536 academic standards.” “The State Board of Education shall develop or adopt a curriculum to inspire future generations through motivating stories of American history that demonstrate important life skills and the principles of individual freedom that enabled persons to prosper even in the most difficult circumstances.” |
GA | Legislature HB 1084 | “America is fundamentally Racist” “Anguish, guilt, or distress” “race scapegoating or stereotyping” |
IA | Legislature House File 802 | “the superintendent of each school district shall ensure that any curriculum or mandatory staff or student training provided by an employee of the school district or by a contractor hired by the school district does not teach, advocate, encourage, promote, or act upon specific stereotyping and scapegoating toward others on the basis of demographic group membership or identity.” |
ID | Legislature HB 377 | “The Idaho legislature finds that tenets outlined in subsection 23 (3)(a) of this section, often found in “critical race theory,” undermine the objectives outlined in subsection (1) of this section and exacerbate and inflame divisions on the basis of sex, race, ethnicity, religion, color, national origin, or other criteria in ways contrary to the unity of the nation and the well-being of the state of Idaho and its citizens.” |
KY | Legislature SB 1 (Vetoed and overridden) | “An individual, by virtue of the individual’s race or sex, does not bear responsibility for actions committed by other members of the same race or sex” |
MS | Legislature SB 2113 | “Affirm that any sex, race, ethnicity, religion or national origin is inherently superior or that individuals should be adversely treated based on such characteristics.” |
ND | Legislature HB1508 | “ is systemically embedded in American society and the American legal system to facilitate racial inequality.” |
NH | Legislature HB2 | “That an individual, by virtue of his or her age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, creed, color, marital status, familial status, mental or physical disability, religion, or national origin, is inherently racist, sexist, or oppressive, whether consciously or unconsciously” |
OK | Legislature HB 1775 | “any individual should feel discomfort, guilt, anguish or any other form of psychological distress on account of his or her race or sex” |
SC | Legislature H. 4100 1.105 | “one race or sex is inherently superior to another race or sex; (2) an individual, by virtue of his race or sex, is inherently racist, sexist, or oppressive, whether consciously or unconsciously” “an individual should feel discomfort, guilt, anguish, or any other form of psychological distress on account of his race or sex” “fault, blame, or bias should be assigned to a race or sex, or to members of a race or sex because of their race or sex.” |
SD | Governor Executive Order 2022-02 | “The Department of Education (DOE) shall not compel employees, students, or teachers to personally affirm, adopt, or adhere to inherently divisive concepts” |
TX | Legislature HB 3979 | “the advent of slavery in the territory that is now the United States constituted the true founding of the United States” “require an understanding of the 1619 Project” |
TN | Legislature SB 0623 | “An individual, by virtue of the individual’s race or sex, is ” “An individual, by virtue of the individual’s race or sex, bears responsibility for actions committed in the past by other members of the same race or sex” “An individual should feel discomfort, guilt, anguish, or another form of psychological distress solely because of the individual’s race or sex” “This state or the United States is fundamentally or irredeemably racist or sexist” “Promoting division between, or resentment of, a race, sex, religion, creed, nonviolent political affiliation, social class, or class of people” “Ascribing character traits, values, moral or ethical codes, privileges, or beliefs to a race or sex, or to an individual because of the individual’s race or sex.” |
UT | State Board of Education Resolution 277 | “various counterpoints to a topic in an impartial manner.” “a student or educator bears responsibility for the past actions of individuals from the same sex, race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or any other protected class as the student or educator” |
VA | Executive Order 1 | “end the use of inherently divisive concepts, including Critical Race Theory, and to raise academic standards.” |
