From a marathon to a milestone: Wisconsin Legislature unanimously passes bill to mandate Asian American history in schools

 

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- In 2021, Illinois made history as the first state to require Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) studies in their schools.

And after a historic and unanimous passing of Assembly Bill 232 and Senate Bill 240 on Tuesday, March 12, Wisconsin can now say the same.

The bill amends current state law which only requires Native, Black, and Latino American history to be taught in grades K-12, despite Wisconsin being home to more than 200,000 AAPI-identifying individuals.

Plus, the state also houses the third largest Hmong population in the country.

"I definitely was very emotional," said E Her Vang, who is Hmong and lives in Milwaukee. "I interrupted my partner's workday and told him about it... we did a happy dance, and we were just super excited."

Vang said the two also shared "a sigh of relief" upon hearing the news. 

"Wow, it finally happened, and it was when I'm still here," Vang told CBS 58's Ellie Nakamoto-White.

She's been a loud supporter of the bill for years, proudly speaking at several events about the importance of highlighting Asian history.

“I wasn’t always proud of being Hmong, but I couldn’t run away from it because that’s who I am, and once I leaned into it and embraced my identity and my Hmong-ness, those are the best qualities," Vang said. “Being Hmong means that everything Hmong about me is embraced and that my differences make me unique.”

Vang is also a member of the AAPI Coalition of Wisconsin, which is led in part by Lorna Young, the chair for the organization's education committee.

"This is an amazing moment for Wisconsin," Young said. “For our own state to have recognition of the importance of Hmong American and Asian American history among all our K-12 students is a milestone.”

Young said while this bill focuses on history, it's "really learning about Asian American culture."

“It’s important to Asian Americans to be able to learn about their story, their heritage, and also to be able to be confident that they are accepted and are understood by their peers," Young said. “It should be that it’s not just taught in social studies or in English classes but that the teachers throughout the school respect the kids that are in front of them."

Young added that "more than 95% of our teachers" are not Asian American, which is why having this kind of legislation will help allies have a better understanding of "the Asian experience."

"It's an important recognition that we're part of the fabric of Wisconsin and of the United States," Young said.

Both said this decision is a long time in the making. Similar measures were previously introduced to lawmakers more than a decade ago, but always stalled. 

According to State Rep. Francesca Hong (D) Madison, the reason it passed in 2024 is due to "relentless organizing, coalition building, and advocacy."

"We haven't seen this sort of recognition in state law," Hong said. "To know that our history - because Asian American history is American history - will now be included in classrooms to help other students share their experiences, learn and grow better, and also just be kinder and more compassionate people, makes this, yes, a historic win, but also a win that's going to impact generations."

Hong, who was born and raised in the Badger State, is Wisconsin's first and only Asian American state legislator. 

Both Vang and Young said Hong is another large reason for the victory.

"We've been made to feel invisible and not often seen as folks who get loud about issues that we care about," Hong said. "It's important for Asian American students to feel seen, to feel heard, to feel valued... we also have to foster spaces where we feel safer sharing our stories."

Hong said she hopes this passing will be the first step toward a long road of inclusion in our classrooms.

"Asian American education goes beyond the textbooks, and I think that's why it was so important for us to get it in statute," Hong said. "Our stories matter. Our history matters. "Our students can continue to carry that and teach others about how there's more things that we share and value than what divides us."

Now that the bill is passed, it will then be moved to Governor Tony Evers' desk for an official signature.