Malden Delegation Announces $40,000 Genocide Education Grant for MPS

BOSTON—State Senator Jason Lewis and State Representatives Paul Donato, Steve Ultrino, and Kate Lipper-Garabedian are pleased to announce that Malden Public Schools are receiving a $40,000 Genocide Education Grant from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

Genocide Education Grants are intended to support districts in selecting and/or developing curriculum, providing professional development, and creating enrichment experiences related to genocide education. The grant provides support to districts to train educators in content knowledge and pedagogical skills relevant to genocide education, to sustainably incorporate genocide education resources into core curricula, and to provide meaningful learning experiences for students relating to genocide education.

In 2021, the Massachusetts state legislature passed a new law to require all public middle and high schools to provide instruction in the history and patterns of genocide. Districts may integrate genocide education across a variety of subjects such as history, civics, and English Language Arts. This grant will support Malden Public Schools in providing this genocide education.

“Teaching our students about human rights and the history of genocide is essential to ensuring that these atrocities don’t happen again,” said State Senator Jason Lewis, who also serves as the Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Education. “I’m very pleased that Malden Schools are receiving this state grant to support their genocide education efforts.”

“With this grant, Malden Public Schools reaffirms their dedication to encouraging students to critically engage with the past,” said State Representative Paul Donato. “By focusing on the world’s dark history, students can foster empathy, resilience, and a commitment to social justice. It is our duty to provide a holistic education to our youth so that society can continue to positively move forward.”

“It is not only important for our students to learn both about the atrocities of the past, but to use this knowledge to address and understand a wide range of current issues in our society,” said State Representative Steve Ultrino. “These funds will ensure that our students receive a more in-depth education on pertinent historical and current events related to genocide. Congratulations again to Malden Public Schools for successfully pursuing this grant funding!”

"As a former educator, I find it essential that students receive accurate history and civics curriculum; this includes the history of genocide to ensure history does not repeat itself," said State Representative Kate Lipper-Garabedian. "I was proud to vote for Massachusetts’s genocide education law, and I am glad that Malden Schools will be receiving this state funding to support genocide education in student learning."