Illinois continues legislative trend to diversify school curriculums

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WICS/WRSP) — A series of bills aims to increase diversity in school curriculums across Illinois.

Some have already taken effect, while others are still making their way through the legislative process.

The first bill (HB 2170) is an omnibus education package signed by Gov. JB Pritzker, D-Illinois, this past March. It includes adding Black history prior to American enslavement to school lessons.

Another bill (HB 246) that went into effect this school year mandates the teaching of LGBTQ+ history.

Mark Katrikh is Director of Operations and Experience at the Los Angeles-based Museum of Tolerance and supports the curriculum bills. A mobile Museum of Tolerance was on display all week in Springfield.

"The idea is that we create an educational environment for anybody to talk about the things that are important,” Katrikh said. “Whether you're a student or you're a professional, you deserve the space to engage in these conversations in a respectful way.”

Katrikh says the bills support the museum's goal of educating about and combatting prejudice and discrimination in society.

Two other bills this session would add Muslim-American (SB 564) and Asian-American (HB 376) histories to school curriculums. The former has passed the Senate, while the latter has passed the House.