Applications Now Open: AAPI Curriculum Design Institute

Teach Asian American Stories is thrilled to announce that applications are now open for our AAPI Curriculum Design Intensive.

This 4-day, hybrid Curriculum Design Institute for middle and high school educators in New Jersey to engage in intensive lesson plan development on Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) histories and narratives. This workshop is hosted by Teach Asian American Stories (TAAS), an initiative fueled by AAPI New Jersey to help support the implementation of New Jersey’s historic AAPI curriculum law (S4021). Participating educators will gain knowledge on AAPI histories, professional development on teaching AAPI histories and culturally responsive lesson plan design, resources catered to their classroom grade levels, and guided focus groups with support from experienced educators. By the end of the Curriculum Design Institute, participating educators will have completed a draft lesson plan for their classrooms, which will then be reviewed, edited, and published online for free public access.

Eligibility Requirements: 

In order to apply for this workshop, you must be:

• A middle or high school (grades 6-12) educator currently teaching at a New Jersey school
• Able to fully attend all four days (see below)
• Able to arrange your own transportation to Day 4
• Certified in social studies or ELA

We welcome educators of any racial/ethnic identity, with any level of experience learning and teaching AAPI histories, to apply. 

Schedule: 

• Day 1 [VIRTUAL]: Tuesday April 14th, 2026 at 4PM-6PM ET
• Day 2 [VIRTUAL]: Thursday, April 16th, 2026 at 4PM-6PM ET
• Day 3 [VIRTUAL]: Tuesday, April 21st, 2026 at 4PM-6PM ET
• Day 4 [IN-PERSON]: Saturday, April 25th, 2026 at 10AM-4PM ET
  (Location: The Montclair HUB, Montclair, NJ)

Participating educators will receive a $500 stipend for full attendance of all four days of the workshop, completion of one draft lesson plan by the end of the 4-day Curriculum Design Intensive, and final edits and revisions within the following month.

This program is brought to you by Teach Asian American Stories and AAPI New Jersey, in partnership with Montclair State University. Made possible by support from the Library of Congress Teaching with Primary Sources.

PLEASE NOTE: THE APPLICATION PERIOD IS NOW THROUGH FEBRUARY 1, 2026