Dems Reintroduce 'Teach MI History,' Requires Implicit Bias Training, Diverse History Learning

(Source: MIRS.news, Published 07/09/2025) Educators in Michigan would need to receive implicit bias training and lessons on "key historic contributions and perspectives" of multiple minority populations, under legislation led by several Democratic legislators. 

Sens. Darrin Camilleri (D-Trenton), Erika Geiss (D-Taylor) and Stephanie Chang (D-Detroit), as well as Reps. Jason Hoskins (D-Southfield), Veronica Paiz (D-Harper Woods) and Matt Koleszar (D-Plymouth) are respectively sponsoring SB 453, SB 454 and SB 455 and HB 4687, HB 4689 and HB 4688. Together, the bills establish the "Teach MI History" legislation, which is being backed by a campaign run by Rising Voices, the 501(c)(4) nonprofit advocating for policies promoting Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the state, as well as other communities of color. 

hand holding ball containing word learning repeatedly

Under Geiss' SB 454, the state's superintendent will appoint members of a new cultural history advisory board. 

Michigan's Asian-American and Pacific Islander population, Latino and Hispanic communities, Black, Indigenous, Caribbean-American, Jewish, European-American and Middle Eastern, North African and Chaldean communities will each have two representing members on the board. K-12 educators, a teacher's union, higher education personnel and school district leadership will also have designated spots on the panel. 

No later than two years after all members are appointed to the board, they must provide recommendations to the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) on creating a K-12 curriculum tool kit and professional development materials. 

According to Rising Voices, the "inclusive multicultural curriculum" provided under the bills would be a "vital tool" in preventing bullying that is racially charged and addressing mental health issues among youths linked to feeling unseen or misunderstood. 

"All Michigan children deserve to see themselves reflected in the history taught in their classrooms," Chang said in a June 27 press release. "By teaching the triumphs and struggles of all communities, including communities of color, we strengthen the knowledge and critical thinking skills of our students. We can build greater cultural understanding and lessen the hate and intolerance in our communities – starting with our young people." 

According to the U.S. Department of Justice last September, there were 11,447 single-bias hate crime incidents in 2023, based on reports by law enforcement agencies from throughout the United States. 

More than 52 percent were due to a bias against race, ethnicity or ancestry, and 22.5 percent involved religion. Between 2022 and 2023, hate crime victims grew nationally from 13,711 reported to 14,416. 

Under Chang's SB 455, all educators in a school district or charter school district will be required to receive cultural competency training beginning with the 2027-28 academic year. Similar training will be required for any non-teacher school staff member interacting with pupils as well. 

"As lawmakers, we have a responsibility to ensure that every Michigan student receives an education that reflects the full story of our state and country – one that recognizes the contributions, cultures, and histories of all communities," said Paiz. "Our bill package is a step toward building an inclusive and accurate curriculum that prepares our young people not just to succeed academically, but also to lead with empathy and understanding of a diverse world." 

Paiz said the legislation is about truth, equity and ensuring every student sees themselves in the story of Michigan. 

Similar legislation was introduced in 2022, when the Legislature was led by Republicans, and in 2024, when it was under Democratic control. However, the 2024 bills did not receive any hearings or legislative fiscal analyses last term. 

This term the bills could face obstacles in the Republican-controlled House, as President Donald Trump has worked to remove diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programming and spending in government spaces. 

After legislators left for the Fourth of July holiday without finalizing a K-12 budget, Tom McMillin, a Republican serving on the State Board of Education since 2017, advised House Republicans to push for a budget pushing schools away from "anti-American ideologies" and "discriminating based on race with DEI."

McMillin secured his spot on the board last year with more than 2.47 million votes statewide.

In February 2024, the Pew Research Center published research finding that 52 percent of American adults think parents should not be able to opt their children out of learning about racism or racial inequality. Additionally, 64 percent of all teachers surveyed in the country said the legacy of slavery still affects the position of Black people in today's society, believing it should be taught in the classroom. 

The survey featured responses from 5,029 American adults from Nov. 9-16, 2023 and 2,531 public K-12 educators from Oct. 17 to Nov. 14, 2023.