US Sept 11-Education
U.S. Park Ranger Claire Affinito, left, leads a tour for a group of educators at the Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville, Pa., Tuesday, June 23, 2026.
As featured on
Telling the story of 9/11 has become the labor of U.S. schools now that about 1/3 of Americans weren’t yet born on Sept. 11, 2001. The Associated Press has found that a growing majority of states — at least 40 — now expect or suggest that public schools address 9/11 in some way. According to data gathered by the AP, laws or education standards in 25 states now require or expect public schools to provide instruction specifically on the Sept. 11 attacks. Another 13 have optional mentions of 9/11. Several other states have laws requiring or recommending school observances. But the provisions vary widely in scope, specificity and framing.
