The New York State Education Department has launched an online resource platform called Teaching the Holocaust and Other Genocides. The new platform is designed to help educators teach students about complex historical topics, including the Holocaust and other genocides. The resource guide includes primary sources, case studies, learning activities, supplemental materials, and pacing guides. It was developed in partnership with the Holocaust and Human Rights Education Center and the New York State Archives Partnership Trust.
Chancellor Lester W. Young, Jr. said, “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 platform offers teachers flexibility by providing a variety of resources tailored for different courses and student needs. There are also supports for teachers working with English language learners or students with disabilities. Supplemental pacing guides allow educators to structure lessons over three to five class periods.
A dedicated module focuses on other genocides beyond the Holocaust with related activities and readings. Additional resources include literature guides; annotated bibliographies; videographies; information on camps and ghettos; key terms; profiles of significant individuals; as well as guidance for selecting appropriate fiction to avoid misinformation.
The resource was created to help students examine events from multiple perspectives using accurate historical content while encouraging reflective thinking about current issues related to human rights.
After review by NYSED staff along with BOCES representatives and local experts, the platform was presented at a Board of Regents meeting in September 2025 before being distributed statewide through various channels.
This initiative supports Section 801 of New York State Education Law which requires schools to teach about citizenship issues including genocide studies.
The Archives Partnership Trust is a nonprofit organization that works to make more than 350 years of New York records accessible through educational programs such as ConsidertheSourceNY.org and preservation projects for historic documents.
Anyone interested can learn more by visiting the Teaching the Holocaust and Other Genocides website.
