Human Rights in State Standards & Policies

HRE USA advocates for the inclusion of HRE in national and state education policies, standards, curricula, and pedagogy. HRE USA published The Human Rights in State Social Studies Standards: An Analysis Report prepared by the Advocates for Human Rights (2016) and The Human Rights Education Survey Report (Cohen, 2015). The first national survey on Human Rights Education in State Standards was completed by Dennis N. Banks (2000, updated 2007). HRE USA continues to provide input to US federal institutions effectively fulfill US human rights treaty obligations.

In 2024, HRE USA continues to support states to integrate human rights education into their different subject-area standards and human rights/children’s rights school, district, and statewide policies and practice.

U.S. State Agency Statements & Comments

Below is a list of past and present campaigns by state

California
In 2016, we participated in the revision of the California History – Social Science Framework. We provided suggestions to add more robust human rights and international humanitarian law content to the framework.Our suggestions were well-received, and many of them ended up in the new, now finalized, framework. In addition, we were recognized in the Professional Learning chapter of the new framework (Chapter 22, page 824) as a source of high-quality online HRE materials for teachers.

Colorado
In 2017, multiple members of HRE USA’s Collaborative Action, Policy, & Advocacy Committee (CAPAC), along with other HRE USA members/stakeholders who live in Colorado, provided detailed suggestions for stronger human rights education, and international humanitarian law, content to the Colorado Department of Education’s Second Public Feedback Opportunity, as part of the review and revision process for the Colorado Academic Standards. Our suggestions covered the following subject areas, and intersected with various areas of the entire K-12 spectrum: Social Studies (including History, Geography, Economics, and Civics), Reading/Writing/Communicating, Science, Visual Arts, Dance, Drama & Theater Arts, Comprehensive Health, and Music – proof that HRE really can fit into every aspect of the curriculum!

District of Columbia
Increasing HRE in the District of Columbia Public Schools In 2017, CAPAC members wrote to the DC Council Education Committee, Office of the State Superintendent for Education, the State Board of Education, the Deputy Mayor of Education, and the Mayor urging them to begin the process of revising DC’s social studies standards, which were last reviewed and revised in 2006, with emphasis on the incorporation of human rights and humanitarian law principles into the social studies core. In September 2017, an HRE USA Advocacy Committee member testified before the DC Council Education Committee to urge the Council to revise social studies standards and to create a human rights elective for high school and middle school students. The testimony offered many recommendations for how these initiatives could be implemented and how community resources could be harnessed to train existing and prospective teachers on HRE and provide curriculum. Following the testimony, Advocacy Committee members sent follow-up emails and were invited to meet with the Legislative Council to further discuss HRE in DC schools. We met with the Legislative Council in November and shared what other states are doing as far as standards, budgets, and Amnesty International USA’s Human Rights Friendly Schools model.

An HRE USA Advocacy Committee member also testified at a public meeting before DC’s State Board of Education urging them to begin the process of revising DC’s social studies standards, with particular emphasis on the incorporation of human rights and humanitarian law principles. This has garnered support from at least one Board member. At the Board’s request, HRE USA gathered other organizations, teachers, and students to testify on this issue for the next public meeting. HRE USA also submitted comments to the DC Graduation Requirements Task Force, suggesting that DC should make competency in HRE a requirement for all DC students.

In 2008, Washington, D.C. was declared the first human rights city in the United States. This historic City Council Ceremonial Resolution specifically noted the importance of continuing to educate D.C, residents about their human rights. In the intervening years, the call to action included in the resolution has inspired significant progress in HRE in D.C. The 2021 State of Human Rights Education in Washington, D.C. Report, written by HRE USA Regional Representatives Rachel Bergsieker and Karen Hopkins, details the efforts of multiple organizations, including HRE USA, to promote and expand human rights education in the District of Columbia. A short briefing paper references human rights and human rights education in the Washington, D.C. Social Studies Standard Guiding Principles developed by the Social Studies Standards Advisory Committee, the language from the D.C. Board of Education resolution adopting the Guiding Principles as drafted by the Advisory committee, and the role of HRE USA Regional Representative Karen Hopkins in her role on the Advisory Committee.

Kansas
in 2018, Kansas will begin to revise its standards, and we have committed to helping stakeholders there who want to make certain that HRE is a vital part of the new standards that emerge from that process.

Massachusetts
HRE USA is currently providing support to HRE USA members/stakeholders in this state to advocate for inclusion of HRE.

Minnesota
As Minnesota moved into its social studies standards revision process in 2021, in the aftermath of George Floyd’s murder by law enforcement officers in Minneapolis, HRE USA noted with particular concern that the human rights perspective is not applied to the domestic social, economic, and political issues that arise within the United States. Without a human rights lens—an important analytical tool—students are deprived of understanding these issues, and there remains an historic failure to consider internationally-recognized human rights standards before, during, and after these often-violent injustices. As the Minnesota standards moved toward final approval, HRE advocates continually addressed this concern.

“HRE USA members in Minnesota have followed the process through every phase to date,” stated the HRE USA 2021 Annual Report. In November 2021, the third draft of the social studies standards was released, and the statutory rulemaking process for the standards began. HRE advocates in Minnesota continued to follow the laborious revision process as the Minnesota standards continued toward final approval. After nearly four years, the new standards were adopted in March of 2024 and began in classroom teaching in the 2026-27 academic year.

New Mexico
HRE USA began outreach efforts in New Mexico in 2019, to assess how they could provide assistance in anticipation of the New Mexico revisions. The next year, in 2020, the state began its social studies review process and filed an initial draft of proposed revisions for public comment in August 2021. These standards were open for written comments for three months, until November 2021, during which a virtual hearing took place. HRE USA NM regional representative Rosemary Blanchard submitted written comments and participated in the virtual hearing, while also maintaining communication with NM Department of Education officials and members of the standards revision committee.

The final revised standards include specific references to HRE as well as focus on the diverse communities within New Mexico and the histories these communities have experienced. There is particular attention paid to the Indigenous nations and peoples in New Mexico, and their histories, as well as histories of encounters, both harmful and hopeful. HRE holds the power to reverse traditional hierarchies, not only in spaces of learning, but also in society at large. HRE USA is actively working to make sure the voices of marginalized and largely silenced populations are included as a way to enhance social studies and civic education while demonstrating the benefits and importance of human rights principles.

In 2022, the revised New Mexico social studies standards were finalized and approved in a final rule. Educators in the state have since been involved in a process of identifying curriculum resources to implement the standards and professional development opportunities for educators. HRE USA has continued to follow the implementation process and share HRE-related resources with educators.

South Carolina
HRE USA is currently providing support to HRE USA members/stakeholders in this state to advocate for inclusion of HRE.

>> To join in this effort, please contact the HRE USA Advocacy and Policy Committee at info@hreusa.org.