By 1979, the Association for Asian American Studies, a professional organization designed to promote teaching and academic research in the field, was established in 1979.
Organizations such as Asian American Studies Collaborative are working with students and professors to add more programs to institutions of higher education across the country.
Academic programs in Asian American Studies examines the history of Asian-Americans, which includes topics such as immigration and race-based exclusion policies.
[8] Asian American Studies focuses on the identities, historical and contemporary experiences of individuals and groups in the United States.
Concepts and issues that are crucial to this interdisciplinary curriculum include: Orientalism, settler colonialism, diaspora and transnationalism, gender and sexuality, cultural politics, and media representation.
[14] The TEAACH Act was proposed by Illinois legislators amidst rising anti-Asian racism during the COVID-19 pandemic, which included the 2021 Atlanta spa shootings that resulted in the deaths of six Asian American women and two other persons.
The TEAACH Act will ensure that the next generation of Asian American students won't need to attend law school to learn about their heritage.
[15]In 2022, New Jersey became the second state to require Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) history in public school curriculum after Governor Phil Murphy signed bill S4021/A6100 into law.
[17] These legislative acts were led by the New Jersey chapter of Make Us Visible (MUV NJ), which has advocated for the teaching of Asian American history and worked to create state resources.
[21] This legislation was led by Rhode Island's chapter of Make Us Visible (MUV RI) and introduced by Representative Barbara Ann Fenton-Fung.
The bipartisan bill was introduced by Cuban American legislators Representative Susan Plasencia and Senator Ana Maria Rodriguez.
[25] In Alaska, Senator Elvi Gray-Jackson has introduces a bill requiring Asian American and Pacific Islander history in K-12 schools.
In Arizona, state senator John Kavanagh has introduced a bill requiring Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander history in K-12 public schools.
In Washington, state senator T'wina Nobles has introduced a bill requiring Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander history in K-12 public schools.