The New York State Education Department has introduced an online resource platform called Teaching the Holocaust and Other Genocides, aimed at supporting educators in teaching about complex historical events. The platform includes primary resources, case studies, learning activities, supplemental materials, and pacing guides. It was developed in collaboration with the Holocaust and Human Rights Education Center and the New York State Archives Partnership Trust. The resources are designed to align with the Social Studies Framework and Learning Standards for Literacy in History/Social Studies.
Chancellor Lester W. Young, Jr. stated, “It is imperative that educators and students have access to a wide range of primary sources that offer perspective and drive conversation when studying these tragic, global atrocities. Teaching the Holocaust and Other Genocides is a compelling collection of historically grounded materials, curated to support educators as they promote critical thinking, empathy, and civil discourse. Ultimately, this resource encourages productive dialogue, helping prepare students for engagement on difficult topics both in and out of the classroom.”
Commissioner Betty A. Rosa said, “Teaching the Holocaust and Other Genocides is an invaluable resource that will support educators in their teaching of the most difficult chapters in human history. Its value lies not only in the rich content it provides, but also in the meaningful connections it makes to human rights, social-emotional learning, and responsible citizenship. This online guide will serve as a foundation for formative lessons, helping students explore themes of courage, resilience, and moral conviction through the lived experiences of Holocaust and genocide victims, their families, and communities.”
The new platform offers teachers flexibility by providing a variety of resources tailored to different courses and student needs. There are also supports for teaching considerations such as social-emotional needs and accommodations for English language learners or students with disabilities. Supplemental pacing guides help break down material into three-, four-, or five-class lessons.
A dedicated module covers other genocides through activities, case studies, and readings beyond just the Holocaust. Additional features include literature guides; annotated bibliographies; information on camps and ghettos; key terms; notable figures; and a teacher’s guide on selecting accurate fiction related to these topics.
The initiative aims to help students analyze historical events from multiple perspectives while fostering reflective thinking through accurate content. The materials are linked to Culturally Responsive-Sustaining Education Frameworks as well as Social-Emotional Learning Benchmarks.
After being reviewed by NYSED staff members along with BOCES representatives and local experts across New York State, the platform was presented to the Board of Regents during its September 2025 meeting before statewide dissemination began through various channels.
This effort supports Section 801 of New York State Education Law requiring school districts to teach about citizenship issues including genocide studies—particularly focusing on understanding humanity’s failures during events like the Holocaust.
Further details can be found at the Teaching the Holocaust and Other Genocides website.
The Archives Partnership Trust is a nonprofit organization working to make over 350 years of New York State records accessible through education programs such as ConsidertheSourceNY.org; research residencies; student awards; preservation efforts; public outreach including New York Archives Magazine; Empire State Archives & History Award; among others.
