As the U.S. prepares to mark the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, at least 40 states have adopted policies requiring or encouraging public schools to teach students about the events. According to research by The Associated Press, 25 states have laws or education standards that specifically require instruction on the attacks, while 13 additional states include optional references to 9/11 in their educational guidance.
The policies vary widely across states. Some require dedicated classroom instruction on the attacks and their aftermath, while others embed the topic within broader U.S. history, civics, or discussions about terrorism and foreign policy. Several states also mandate commemorative observances, such as moments of silence, bringing the total number of states with some form of 9/11-related policy to at least 40.
Teaching 9/11 as Historical Context
Education experts note that many teachers now view the attacks as a historical event rather than a lived experience, particularly as about one-third of Americans were born after 2001. Jeremy Stoddard, an education professor at the University of Wisconsin who researches how schools teach 9/11, told Newsweek that educators increasingly emphasize the long-term impacts of post-9/11 policies on students today.
Classroom Approaches Differ by Age and State
In Brooklyn, educators who witnessed the attacks as children are now teaching the next generation about the events. Kathleen Palladino, a nursery school teacher who was six years old on 9/11, recalled seeing the sky turn black from the Brooklyn Bridge that afternoon. Today, she teaches young children about the attacks in an age-appropriate manner, focusing on foundational lessons rather than graphic details.
Her school’s principal, Kathy Curatolo, lost her 31-year-old brother, FDNY firefighter Robert Curatolo, in the attacks. She watched the North Tower collapse from a school roof that morning. For her, teaching 9/11 is deeply personal, though her students know the event only as history.
Policy Variations Across States
States take different approaches to 9/11 education. Some, like New York, require dedicated lessons on the attacks, while others incorporate the topic into broader discussions of U.S. history or foreign policy. A subset of states mandate commemorative activities, such as moments of silence, to ensure the anniversary is observed in schools.
The 9/11 Memorial & Museum has not yet responded to requests for comment on how its educational resources are being used in classrooms nationwide.