Require all Minnesotan Public Schools to Celebrate Hmong American Day

 

 

To celebrate and bring awareness to the Hmong community in Minnesota. This Act seeks to inform Minnesotans about the

unique and diverse contributions that the Hmong community provides to the state. Schools shall spend at least one class

period dedicated to learning about Hmong history, culture, and contributions in Minnesota. The Department of Education

shall develop or approve age-appropriate instructional materials, lesson plans, media resources, and optional activities

for use by public schools to fulfill this requirement.

Therefore, be it enacted that the Minnesota House of Representatives require all public schools to:

1. Supply education surrounding the mass movement of Hmong families to the United States in the 1970s.

2. Inform students of the ethnic origins and cultural heritage of the Hmong people.

3. Inform students of the achievements and accomplishments of the Hmong community in Minnesota.

 

Minnesota holds the second-largest population of Hmong people in the United States. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, there

were an estimated 260,000 Hmong Americans nationwide, with more than 66,000 residing in Minnesota alone. Despite this,

over 97 percent of the state’s Hmong population resides in the Twin Cities region. As a result, communities outside of

the Twin Cities may have less exposure to or understanding of the Hmong community and its history.

Many students in Minnesota identify as Hmong or come from Hmong families, yet Hmong history and contributions remain

underrepresented in curriculum materials across the state. Increasing access to accurate and meaningful instruction on

Hmong American history supports inclusive education, strengthens cultural understanding, and recognizes the important

role the Hmong community plays in Minnesota’s civic and cultural life.

Hmong American Day is already recognized in Minnesota as of May 14, 2013, when Governor Mark Dayton signed the

proclamation. This Act ensures consistent observance of Hmong American Day within schools and equitable access to

culturally responsive instruction for all Minnesota students.

 

“Twin Cities Region”: The Minneapolis–St. Paul metropolitan area and surrounding suburbs.

“Hmong”: An ethnic group originating from China, with significant populations residing in Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, and

other Southeast Asian countries.

“Hmong American Day”: May 14 of each year, or another date within the same instructional week designated by the school.

“Public school”: Any elementary or secondary school under the jurisdiction of a public school district or charter

school.

“Department”: The Minnesota Department of Education.

 

N/A

 

(a) Annual Certification

Each school district shall submit an annual certification to the Department affirming that its schools conducted Hmong

American Day activities consistent with this Act.

(b) Review Mechanism

The Department may request sample instructional materials or activity plans from districts as part of its periodic

curriculum audits.

(c) Corrective Action

If the Department determines that a district has not met the requirements of this Act, it shall issue a written notice

and require a corrective action plan within 60 days.

 

This Act shall take effect upon enactment. Compliance by public schools is required beginning with the 2026–2027 school

year