HARRISBURG – A new law is now in effect that allows school districts to access curriculum materials relating to Sept. 11, 2001, and its aftermath, according to Sen. Kristin Phillips-Hill (R-York), who spearheaded the effort.
“Our students today are learning about Sept. 11, 2001, through the lens of a history lesson rather than a lived experience,” Phillips-Hill said. “I am hopeful that through this new law, more school districts will take advantage of the materials available from the state Department of Education and provide context to students of what transpired that day and how this moment in time forever altered the future of our nation and the world.”
Act 25 of 2024 gave the Pennsylvania Department of Education one year to create model curriculum for school districts to use to teach about the terrorist events leading up TO, on, and after Sept. 11, 2001.
Phillips-Hill sponsored legislation to provide model curriculum to school districts. As a former school director, she did not want to make it an unfunded mandate but an option available to districts to utilize. Pennsylvania’s state academic standards for History and Civics and Government do not mention the events of Sept. 11, 2001.
Her legislation was incorporated into an omnibus measure that was signed into law by the governor on June 17, 2024. Under the law, the Pennsylvania Department of Education was provided one year to create model curriculum for school districts to use to teach about the terrorist events leading up to, on, and after Sept. 11, 2001.
“We may be nearly a quarter century removed from 9/11, but we must never forget,” Phillips-Hill added.