Introduction

There are two separate parts of legislation concerning the teaching of Native American Studies in Connecticut classrooms.

Conn. Gen. Stat. §10-16vv provides that all districts in Connecticut must include Native American Studies, including the study of the Eastern Woodland Tribes of Connecticut in their Social Studies curriculum. 

(a) For the school year commencing July 1, 2023, and each school year thereafter, each local and regional board of education shall include Native American studies as part of the social studies curriculum for the school district, pursuant to section 10-16b of the general statutes. Such Native American studies curriculum shall include, but need not be limited to, a focus on the Northeastern Woodland Native American Tribes of Connecticut. In developing and implementing the Native American studies curriculum, the board may utilize the curriculum materials made available by the State Board of Education pursuant to subsection (d) of section 10-16b of the general statutes, or other existing and appropriate public or private materials, personnel and resources, provided such curriculum is in accordance with the state-wide subject matter content standards adopted by the state board pursuant to section 10-4 of the general statutes. (b) A local or regional board of education may accept gifts, grants and donations, including in-kind donations, designated for the development and implementation of the Native American studies curriculum under this section

The creation of a model social studies curriculum.

In accordance with Conn. Gen. Stat. §10-16vv(a), the CSDE, in collaboration with the State Education Resource Center, shall develop a model curriculum for grades kindergarten to grade eight. The content of the model curriculum shall include and integrate Native American studies.