How different US states approach teaching 9/11 history in schools
On the eve of the 25th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks, the agency Associated Press prepared a review of how different US states recommend teaching schoolchildren about these events. These recommendations vary widely, ranging from an in-depth analysis of foreign policy to a complete disregard for this tragic chapter in US history.
Alabama
In 2024, the state's social studies standards were amended to expand the study of recent history, including the events of September 11, the state Department of Education reported. Fifth-graders are now required to trace the U.S. involvement in international conflicts since 1980, including those following the September 11 attacks. Junior high school students are required to assess the effectiveness of the U.S. response to these events, including the war in Afghanistan, the creation of the Department of Homeland Security, and the passage of the Patriot Act. This law granted federal authorities broad surveillance powers to identify suspected terrorists.
Alaska
The state does not have a single mandatory requirement or specific policy mandating the teaching of 9/11. However, as the state Department of Education reported, "educational goals include the study of important dates and events, which may include 9/11, within broader learning objectives." School districts decide whether and how to teach this topic. The department also clarified that it is in the early stages of developing core educational materials that should provide more guidance for students on how to cover specific historical events and dates.
On the subject: The mastermind of the September 11 attacks has pleaded guilty and will now avoid the death penalty.
Arizona
In 2022, state lawmakers mandated that all public schools devote time to "age-appropriate instruction" on the topic in the lead-up to the 9/11 commemoration. Three years later, the requirement was limited to students in grades seven through twelve. State Senator John Kavanagh, the original author of the law, attributed this change to concerns about how younger students perceive difficult images and the complexity of the topic.
"It's not a good idea to introduce this too early, but eventually everyone should know about it," he said.
The law also requires the state department of education to publish a list of recommended educational materials on the topic.
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The 2022 updated standards for teaching modern U.S. history require students to explain "changes and continuities in foreign policy since 2001 following the September 11 terrorist attacks," including the George W. Bush administration's response, the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and counterterrorism measures such as the Patriot Act and the Supreme Court case Hamdi v. Rumsfeld, which addressed the rights of U.S. citizens detained as "enemy combatants." The state Department of Education declined to comment.
California
A 2021 law recommends that public schools hold a moment of silence annually on September 11th. The Department of Education noted that decisions about how to teach this topic, and whether to address it at all, are typically made at the district and teacher level, but state guidelines provide some guidance. For example, tenth-grade students in world history classes might be asked to discuss the following question: "After September 11th, hopes for a more stable world, which arose after the end of the Cold War, gave way to a new round of international conflict. Did the events of September 11th change everything? Or was the world in the 1990s less stable than it seemed then?"
High school students in American democracy courses might analyze the expansion of presidential powers and the debate over the balance between national security and civil liberties in the aftermath.
Colorado
Social studies standards give school districts considerable flexibility. However, the list of topics for high school students mentions "the war on terrorism (including 9/11, the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, discrimination against people from the Middle East, and the evolution of U.S. counterterrorism policy)."
Connecticut
The state prioritizes local decisions and has no mandatory requirements or policies for 9/11 education in schools. However, educational standards encourage high school students to analyze the causes and consequences of the attacks and how they influenced views in American society—from the passage of the Patriot Act and the creation of new agencies to attitudes toward Muslims and Sikhs.
Delaware
There is no law or regulation requiring the topic to be taught, but it is often covered in high school civics and U.S. history classes, according to the Department of Education.
"Many teachers are incorporating the events of September 11th into their curriculum for studying modern US history, terrorism, and foreign policy, and are holding discussions about the balance between security and individual rights," the department noted.
Florida
A 2023 law requires at least 45 minutes per year to be devoted to the topic of September 11th in certain middle and high school courses. The document lists the aspects to be covered: the historical context of terrorism, the chronology of the attacks, acts of heroism and charity, "the importance of respecting civil liberties while ensuring security," and other topics. Specific mention is made not only of the dead and injured, but also of those who became ill after exposure to toxins during the collapse of the burning World Trade Center towers. State educational standards expand on these requirements. All of this, as the Department of Education explained, is aimed at ensuring that "such a significant event in U.S. history is not only remembered but also integrated into the development of civic engagement in schoolchildren across the state."
Georgia
Standards require that this topic be taught beginning in fifth grade: students must be able to describe attacks and analyze their impact on life in the country. In high school, this topic is covered as part of a unit on "challenges faced by recent presidents."
State Association of Educators President Wayne Haston, a high school social studies teacher, said his school in suburban Atlanta holds an annual moment of silence.
Hawaii
There are no mandatory requirements for teaching this topic. However, high school standards for US history and government cite 9/11, the War on Terrorism, and the Patriot Act as examples that schools can use to illustrate the rise and influence of modern conservatism.
Idaho
This year, the updated social studies standards included specific requirements related to September 11th. The Department of Education noted that during the extensive review of the standards, clear recommendations were made to systematically study major historical events, especially those that had a lasting impact on the country and the world. High school students are now required to evaluate government responses to terrorism, including measures taken after September 11th, and analyze the causes, progress, and consequences of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Illinois
The law classifies September 11th as a "memorable date" that schools may honor through classes, events, or activities, but are not required to do so. The State Board of Education noted that the "Inclusive Calendar" includes materials on this topic, but the choice of teaching materials and methods remains with local school boards and teachers.
Indiana
High school standards require students to "explain the antecedents and consequences" of the events of September 11 "for U.S. domestic and foreign policy."
Iowa
The controversial 2024 law mandates focusing social studies instruction on U.S. history, Western civilization, and civics. It lists a detailed list of topics, including 9/11 and the War on Terrorism. New standards, approved this year, require U.S. history courses to cover the attacks themselves, President George W. Bush's State of the Union address nine days later, the War on Terrorism, and the Patriot Act. The previous 2017 standards did not directly mention these events and were generally more general.
Kansas
The state does not require mandatory instruction on the topic. The standards' appendices suggest that high school students study the period "from the end of the Cold War to September 11," as well as the War on Terrorism and the Patriot Act.
Kentucky
The inclusion of the topic of September 11th in curricula and the methods for its study are determined at the local level. However, the standards call for discussion of the US participation in "international counterterrorism alliances after September 11th."
Louisiana
The Freedom Framework standards, adopted in 2022 after intense debate, address 9/11 on several levels. In second grade, the National September 11 Memorial & Museum is explored during monument studies; in eighth grade, students are required to place the events and the war on terrorism in the context of U.S. relations with the Middle East. In high school, they explore the precursors to the attacks, the events of the day itself, including President Bush's brief address from Barksdale Air Force Base, and the aftermath—from the expansion of intelligence agencies to the sense of unity many Americans felt for a time after the tragedy. Superintendent Cade Brumley noted that the goal is to help students understand the core idea: "When our freedom is threatened, we defend it and we stand together."
Maine
The standards do not include a mandatory requirement for 9/11 education, but many schools include it in their curricula, according to the Department of Education.
Maryland
The topic of September 11th is included in required courses. As part of the curriculum, high school students must assess how the government's response to the attacks altered the balance between security and freedom, as well as analyze the causes, progress, and consequences of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Massachusetts
The state has included 9/11 in its educational standards since 2003. High school students are required to "assess the effectiveness of the federal government's response to international terrorism in the 21st century," including the attacks themselves, the creation of the Department of Homeland Security, the expansion of the Foreign Intelligence Act, and the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. The Board of Education dedicated part of its April meeting to discussing curriculum materials for the 25th anniversary.
Michigan
The standards require high school students to analyze how the September 11 attacks and the war on terrorism changed US domestic and foreign policy. Recommended topics include not only the Department of Homeland Security, the Patriot Act, and wars, but also NATO and the US role in the UN.
Minnesota
The standards focus on major themes, eras, contexts, and do not directly mention 9/11.
Mississippi
The standards require students to be able to describe the events of September 11th, the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, the Patriot Act, and the creation of the Department of Homeland Security and the Transportation Security Administration. This topic is also covered in the required world history course.
Missouri
The standards include consideration of post-9/11 foreign policy, security issues and the balance between individual liberties and national security, and the war on terrorism.
Montana
The state does not require the topic to be taught, but lawmakers are discussing possible changes.
"There are 25-year-olds today who don't remember these events, so we need to talk about this in schools," said state Rep. Randin Gregg. "This changed America."
Nebraska
The standards mention September 11th and Patriot Day as examples that can be used when teaching third-graders about national commemorations, fourth-graders about key events in U.S. history, and eighth-graders about the meaning of patriotic symbols.
Nevada
There are no mandatory requirements. The Department of Education noted that the topic may be included in the curriculum for senior grades.
New Hampshire
The state does not require teaching of the topic. The curriculum uses September 11th as a possible example for elementary grades to illustrate how major national events impact everyday life, and the War on Terror as an example of how events influence international relations.
New Jersey
Standards require that high school students discuss controversies over national security and civil liberties following 9/11, as well as U.S. decisions regarding the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Elementary school teachers are encouraged to address these topics in an age-appropriate manner. This year, some lawmakers proposed expanding the requirements and requiring all schools to hold annual commemoration events.
New Mexico
The standards require high school students to assess how September 11th and other major events impacted various population groups. A supplemental curriculum document suggests examining the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, the Patriot Act, the Abu Ghraib torture scandal, and the detention of terrorism suspects at Guantanamo Bay. The world history standards also encourage discussion of these events.
New York
The state where two planes crashed into the World Trade Center towers emphasizes the need for "future generations to understand the enormity of the impact of the events of September 11, 2001, on the nation and the state." Eighth grade students study the national security implications, the Patriot Act, the creation of the Department of Homeland Security, and the War on Terrorism. Tenth grade examines this topic through the lens of global security threats. In junior year, students analyze the public and government responses in depth, including controversial decisions—from the Iraq War, based on erroneous claims of weapons of mass destruction, to issues of constitutional rights and surveillance. A 2019 law mandates a moment of silence in schools.
North Carolina
The standards don't include a mandatory requirement, but additional materials suggest using the topic in various grades—second through eighth, and in high school. In high school, 9/11 is explored as an example of various processes—from xenophobia and intolerance to the redistribution of power between levels of government—and a lesson plan on the Patriot Act is also offered.
North Dakota
While there's no mandatory requirement, the standards suggest using the topic to connect changes in the political and social climate to the role of the United States as a global power. Wars, discussions about the balance of security and freedom, and the social consequences of domestic terrorist attacks are also mentioned.
Ohio
Schools and districts determine their own curriculum, so there is no mandatory requirement. However, the standards do offer high school materials on how the country faced new political, economic, and security challenges following the attacks.
Oklahoma
Standards require the study of topics in high school, including examples of heroism and the fight against terrorism, the Patriot Act, and the creation of the Department of Homeland Security. Given that the 1995 terrorist attack on the federal building in Oklahoma City, which killed 168 people, occurred in that state, teachers, according to department representatives, openly discuss these tragic chapters of history with students.
Oregon
While there is no mandatory requirement, the standards emphasize the need to analyze key turning points, the causes and consequences of events, and government responses to crises, so the topic of 9/11 naturally fits into civics and history courses.
Pennsylvania
The state where one of the hijacked planes crashed is emphasizing that students understand the historical significance of the events. A 2024 law requires an annual moment of silence. Additionally, the Department of Education was required to develop a sample curriculum, and the resulting set of materials promotes using the anniversary as a "teachable moment" and includes videos, lesson plans, and other resources.
Rhode Island
The 2025 law allows schools to hold a moment of silence. This was previously possible, but, as the law's sponsor explained, "if we make it a priority, people will be more willing to do it."
The standards require high school students to discuss the impact of events on U.S. society and foreign policy, from analyzing Middle East policy prior to the attacks to government and societal responses—from the surge in patriotism to attacks on mosques.
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The standards require fifth-graders to compare the role of the United States in the world before and after 9/11, while high school students explore the connection between the Cold War and post-9/11 eras in the formation of American identity. The education administrator visits schools annually to conduct Patriot Day events. Furthermore, the department offers new teaching materials that help teach the topic in an age-appropriate manner and emphasize the values of courage, service, resilience, and unity.
South Dakota
In 2023, as part of a major and controversial revision of the standards, specific provisions on September 11 were added. The Department of Education emphasized that the impact of these events is key to understanding the country's history. The topic is now required for eighth grade and high school, including the expansion of intelligence agencies and the war in Afghanistan.
Tennessee
The standards require high school students to discuss the impact of events, including President Bush's response, the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and the ongoing fight against terrorism. Similar provisions are included in the updated standards, which will take effect in the 2027–2028 school year.
Texas
A 2013 law requires a moment of silence on September 11th. High school students study the attacks and their aftermath as a turning point, an element of international relations, and an example of constitutional questions that arise during times of crisis. In their world history course, the topic is examined in the context of the development of radical Islamic terrorism.
Utah
Resolution 2026 recommends that public and private schools commemorate the 25th anniversary of the events. The standards mention the topic as a possible assignment for fifth-grade students: choosing the most significant event in U.S. history since 1899.
The War on Terrorism is taught in high school, although the attacks themselves are not explicitly mentioned. The Board of Education has developed new lesson plans for elementary schools that include materials about 9/11 at nearly every level.
Vermont
The state does not have mandatory requirements or a separate policy for teaching the topic.
Virginia
In the state where one of the planes crashed into the Pentagon, standards require the topic to be taught in middle and high schools. Middle school students examine how these events influenced domestic politics, society, and global views on the war on terrorism. Special attention is given to the heroism of the passengers on the plane that crashed in Pennsylvania. High school students analyze 9/11 and other events as factors contributing to the spread of terrorism and the role of the United States in defending democracy.
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Washington
There is no mandatory requirement to teach the topic.
West Virginia
The standards require the study of events and their consequences in sixth and eighth grades, as well as in high school. High school students examine the causes of the attacks, the events preceding them, including the 1993 World Trade Center bombing and the 1979–1980 Iran hostage crisis, evaluate the effectiveness of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and discuss the "necessity of limiting civil rights" under the Patriot Act.
Wisconsin
A 2022 law added September 11th to the list of commemorative dates that "should be appropriately honored" in public schools. Schools are free to determine how they will conduct these events.
Wyoming
The state does not require mandatory teaching of 9/11 education.
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