Read Your Heart Out includes a Hmong dancing performance at Webster Stanley Elementary School in Oshkosh February 14, 2023. PC: Fox 11 Online
(WTAQ-WLUK) — Schools in Wisconsin will now be required to teach Hmong and Asian American histories.
Governor Tony Evers marked Hmong Heritage Month by signing the bipartisan Assembly Bill 232, now 2023 Wisconsin Act 266.
“The Hmong and Asian American communities are a critical part of our state’s history, culture, economy, and our future. It’s important that we celebrate our shared histories and honor the people who help make Wisconsin the state it is today,” said Gov. Evers. “I’ve been proud to sign several key pieces of bipartisan legislation into law to recognize the contributions Hmong and Asian American folks have made to our state and our country, and this bill builds upon those efforts, ensuring the histories and stories of Hmong and Asian American communities are part of state curriculum for future generations.”
Current law requires Wisconsin K-12 schools to teach Black American, Hispanic American, and Native American history. Act 266 adds Hmong and Asian American histories to this required curriculum, promoting greater awareness and understanding among Wisconsin students of the histories, cultures, and traditions of these diverse communities in Wisconsin.
On May 14, 2021, Gov. Evers signed 2021 Wisconsin Act 31, designating May 14 as Hmong-Lao Veterans Day in Wisconsin, and each year since, the governor has used the opportunity to honor Hmong-Lao veterans in Wisconsin for their service and sacrifice, recognize their accomplishments, and encourage schools to include their military service in discussions and curriculums surrounding the Vietnam War.
During the Vietnam War, thousands of Hmong-Lao people courageously fought alongside the United States and, following the end of the war, faced harsh retribution from the Vietnamese and Lao governments for their service. Many Hmong-Lao soldiers and their families were ultimately forced to flee their homes and later resettled in communities throughout the United States, including in Wisconsin.
Additionally, on March 22, 2024, Gov. Evers signed Wisconsin Act 205, which ensures Hmong veterans can have veteran status on their driver’s license or ID by adding to the definition of “veteran” any person who was admitted to the United States under the Hmong Veterans’ Naturalization Act.
Today, Wisconsin is home to the third-largest Hmong population in the United States.
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