ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Iowa schools curriculum features Sikhism
The Iowa Academic Standards for Social Studies 2026 also include Hinduism, Buddhism and Abrahamic religions.
-
Jeffin T. Kaleekal - Tue, 24, Feb 2026
- 00:28 EST
- 12
The Sikh Coalition Logo / The Sikh Coalition
The Iowa Board of Education has incorporated Sikhism into its school curriculum through the recently published Iowa Academic Standards for Social Studies, becoming the 21st state to adopt lessons on Sikhism into its standards.
Sikhism has been incorporated in the “Modern World Studies” class for seventh graders. The religion will be discussed in classrooms in the “Multiple Perspectives” chapter of history, along with other world religions like “Abrahamic religions (Judaism, Christianity, Islam), Hinduism, Sikhism, Buddhism, etc.,” as per the Iowa Academic Standards for Social Studies 2026.
ALSO READ: Utah House recognizes Sikh guru's legacy
The Sikh Coalition, a religious community advocacy group, has been pushing for the addition since 2025. The organization’s education team reached out to the Iowa Board of Education to leverage the board’s social studies standards review as an opportunity to add Sikhism.
They met the state’s social studies consultant and detailed how lessons on Sikhism would align well with Iowa’s new standards.
Celebrating the news, Savleen Singh, Sikh Coalition senior education manager, said in a statement, “After engaging with the Iowa Department of Education, we are excited to see Iowa become the 21st state to include Sikhi in its social studies standards.”
Singh added, “At a time when Sikh students across the country continue to report bullying and misrepresentation in schools, this milestone sends a clear message that our identities and histories matter.”
Discover more at New India Abroad
Related
.png)
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
E Paper
Video
Comments
Start the conversation
Become a member of New India Abroad to start commenting.
Sign Up Now
Already have an account? Login