The state of Illinois requires that schools teach African-American history, but in most schools, that really only happens during Black History Month or around Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. So Chicago Public Schools introduced a new curriculum guide to help teachers discuss African and African American subjects during core classes throughout the year. The interdisciplinary curriculum goes beyond slavery and the civil rights movement to engage students in lessons on the contributions Africans and African Americans have made at the local and national levels throughout history. The Chicago school district has also begun designing a similar curriculum for Latino and Latin American studies. Officials hope the new programs will not only deepen students’ knowledge and appreciation for their cultures, but will help build stronger student communities within Chicago schools.