Digital Press Packet - California Teachers Collaborative for Holocaust and Genocide Education

About the Collaborative

Our Mission

The California Teachers Collaborative for Holocaust and Genocide Education is a first-of-its-kind statewide network of organizations, genocide survivors, and educators with a common goal: to eliminate antisemitism and hate by ensuring that every middle and high school student in California receives impactful Holocaust and genocide education.

The California Teachers Collaborative was established by the JFCS Holocaust Center, with support from the California Department of Education, Marin County Office of Education, and the State of California.

California Leads the Nation in Holocaust and Genocide Education

In a groundbreaking move, California has allocated $5 million in the state budget to fund the California Teachers Collaborative, founded by the JFCS Holocaust Center.

Legislation We've Championed

SB 1277 (2024) | What it Does:

Codifies the Collaborative as an official program of the California Department of Education.
Provides coordinated professional development for K–12 educators.
Brings together leading organizations, educators, and survivors to guide training.
Requires that instruction be age-appropriate and aligned with state standards.

SB 472 (2025) | What it Does:

Establishes a grant program to fund Holocaust and genocide education in grades 7–12.
Requires the state to notify schools about these instructional requirements.
Allows the state to survey schools to understand where instruction is happening.
Creates a dedicated fund for future appropriations.

Together, SB 1277 and SB 472 create a two-part strategy for Holocaust and genocide education in California:

SB 1277 builds the structural foundation: statewide teacher professional development via a collaborative.
SB 472 adds implementation tools: funding, notices, data-collection to ensure schools deliver on the education goals.

Our Impact

Educators Will Teach About the Holocaust and Genocide, Thanks to Collaborative Trainings.

In just three years, the California Teachers Collaborative for Holocaust and Genocide Education has rapidly evolved into a powerful statewide initiative, equipping over 2,300 California educators with the tools to teach these critical topics. With 14 partner organizations, the Collaborative has directly trained 1,300 educators and reached 1,000 more via peer-sharing and resources.