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Texas schools begin observing Holocaust Remembrance Week

Teach the Vote
Teach the Vote

Date Posted: 1/23/2026 | Author: Heather Sheffield

Texas public schools are required to observe Holocaust Remembrance Week from Jan. 26–30, 2026, a time set aside in state law to ensure students receive age-appropriate instruction about the Holocaust and the dangers of hatred, prejudice, and indifference. This observance comes amid a period of renewed global conflict and heightened concerns about antisemitism, underscoring the importance of helping students understand history, recognize warning signs of injustice, and reflect on the consequences when societies fail to confront hate.

Texas Education Code §29.9072 requires public schools to provide instruction during Holocaust Remembrance Week using resources developed or approved by the Texas Holocaust, Genocide, and Antisemitism Advisory Commission (THGAAC). The commission’s mission is to educate Texans about the Holocaust and other genocides in order to combat antisemitism and prevent future atrocities. THGAAC resources are available year-round, but the commission places special emphasis on their use during this designated week and offers direct support to educators, including classroom and campus speakers.

To support educators, THGAAC provides guidance on Holocaust instruction requirements, best practices for teaching this history, and approved instructional materials for elementary, middle, and high school grade bands. These resources are designed to be developmentally appropriate and classroom-ready, helping districts meet statutory requirements without adding unnecessary burden to educators’ already full plates.

Additional support is available through the Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum, which offers free Holocaust Remembrance Week resources and programming. These include an open resource and lesson portal with THGAAC-approved materials such as morning announcements and daily plans, as well as free virtual field trips led by expert museum educators. The museum’s live virtual tours of its Holocaust wing and the Kindertransport special exhibition provide students with guided, interactive learning experiences that connect historical events to personal stories and primary artifacts.

Holocaust Remembrance Week is not just a compliance requirement; it is an opportunity for public schools to reaffirm their role in teaching students to think critically, value human dignity, and understand the real-world consequences of intolerance. With high-quality, state-approved resources and free instructional support available, educators have tools at hand to approach this difficult history thoughtfully and responsibly—during this week and throughout the school year.


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