State Sen. John Liu, Assembly Member Grace Lee and members of the R.E.A.C.H coalition at Wednesday’s rally calling on Gov. Kathy Hochul to sign the AANHPI Education Equity Act into law. Photo courtesy of State Sen. John Liu.

By Shane O’Brien

State Sen. John Liu joined Manhattan Assembly Member Grace Lee and members of the Representing and Empowering AANHPI Community History (R.E.A.C.H.) Coalition outside City Hall on Wednesday, Aug. 27, to celebrate the passage of the AANHPI Education Equity Act in the New York State legislature and call on Gov. Kathy Hochul to sign the bill into law.

Liu, along with Lee, educators, students and members of the R.E.A.C.H. Coalition, called on Hochul to sign the legislation into law ahead of the new school year, stating that the legislation will help create a more inclusive and accurate curriculum in New York schools.

Both houses of the state legislature passed the AANHPI Education Equity Act in June, which supporters say is a critical measure to understand how public schools across New York are teaching Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) history.

The legislation would direct the New York State Education Commissioner to conduct a statewide survey to assess what schools currently teach about AANHPI history. It also establishes the first-ever AANHPI History Advisory Committee, charged with providing recommendations on how to better integrate the curriculum into classrooms statewide.

Speakers at Wednesday’s rally said the legislation would be a milestone for education equity in New York State, ensuring that students see themselves reflected in classrooms and that all New York students receive a more complete and inclusive understanding of American history.

To read the entire article: https://qns.com/2025/08/liu-hochul-aanhpi/