KENTUCKY — The Black Lives Matter movement continues to call for social change, and one Kentucky legislator plans to answer that call one classroom at a time. 

What You Need To Know


  • Kentucky bill looks to make African-American history curriculum more robust

  • House Bill 9 introduced by Rep. Attica Scott in 2019

  • Will be revised for 2021 session

State Rep. Attica Scott (D-41), who introduced House Bill 9 in 2019, has worked to create a more comprehensive curriculum for students over the past ten years.

In 2010, Scott was inspired by a former Jefferson County Public School student who was working to create a more robust curriculum surrounding African-American history. However, it wasn't until 2019 that JCPS high school students approached Scott and asked her to file a bill related to African American history. 

After collaborating with students and colleagues like Rep. Reginald Meeks (D-42), Scott filed the bill and continues working towards creating a well-rounded curriculum that encompasses multiple facets of Native and African-American history. 

House Bill 9 did not pass when it was introduced, but Scott has plans to bring it back for Kentucky's 2020-21 session.

“There were African people that were enslaved and apart of human trafficking and there’s a strong history that exists today and that is being built today that needs to be incorporated into the curriculum so we’re not only seen as people that were enslaved,” said Scott. 

JCPS has already begun efforts to create a more inclusive curriculum. Last month, they announced Juneteenth would now be honored and celebrated. Juneteenth celebrates the day the last slaves in Texas were freed. 

Subject matter will include colonization, systematic racism, reconstruction and other topics within African-American history. For now, the curriculum is offered to fifth and eighth-graders, but teachers have the option to add it as an elective. 

Social Studies Instructional Lead Ryan New says the added subject matter will help create a more innovative and current curriculum. 

“We’ve redesigned it in a way that has questions that are looking at really what is both historically and contemporarily important to people of color, specifically Black communities and specifically to the Black communities in Jefferson County,” said New. 

Scott hopes the Black Lives Matter Movement will continue to bring attention to education and offer a more well-rounded platform for students to learn.

“There is so much more education that has to happen across our communities in order for us to build a more inclusive and welcoming society. I hope that’s one of the lessons that we’re learning from the movement for black lives and that we see that going forward in the Kentucky legislature,” said Scott. 

House Bill 9 only included an updated curriculum for middle and high school students, but Scott plans to add elementary schools in the revised bill for the 2021 session.