What does your State Academic Standards say about Christmas?

Alabama: "Identifying cultural contributions of early world religions and philosophies. Examples: Judaism, ... Christianity…”

Alaska: “using texts/ sources to explain the political, social, cultural, economic, geographic, and historical characteristics of the student’s community or region. [Editor’s note: Cultural aspects of a community can include religious beliefs, traditions, and practices].”

Arizona: “Explain and explore the origins of key American symbols, traditions, and holidays.”

Arkansas: “Examine key concepts and influences of major belief systems on societies: … Christianity, Judaism…”

California: “Note the origins of Christianity in the Jewish Messianic prophecies, the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as described in the New Testament, and the contribution of St. Paul the Apostle to the definition and spread of Christian beliefs (e.g., belief in the Trinity, resurrection, salvation).”

Colorado: “Evaluate the historical development and impact of philosophical and political movements and belief systems, including, but not limited to, the Enlightenment, humanism, communism, socialism, and the development and expansion of Judaism, Christianity…”

Connecticut: “Generate questions about a particular historical source related to a specific historical event or development in the community (e.g., … festival or holiday…).”

Delaware: “Students will develop an understanding of ancient and medieval world history and the continuing influence of major civilizations, including…Classical traditions, major religions, and great empires.”

District of Columbia: “Compare and contrast the tenets of various belief systems that developed in ancient empires and how they spread, including Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Judaism, Hinduism, and Confucianism.”

Florida: “Identify key figures and the fundamental beliefs of early Christianity and how these beliefs impacted the Roman Empire. Examples are Christian monotheism, Jesus as the son of God, Peter, and Paul.”

Georgia: “Compare and contrast the prominent religions in Southwest Asia (Middle East): Judaism, Islam, and Christianity.”

Hawaii: “Assess the social and cultural changes resulting from missionary influence in Hawaiian society.”

Idaho: “Describe the historical origins, central beliefs, and spread of major religions, including Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Confucianism.”

Illinois: “The teaching of history shall include the contributions made to society by Americans of different faith practices, including, but not limited to, Muslim Americans, Jewish Americans, Christian Americans, Hindu Americans, Sikh Americans, Buddhist Americans, and any other collective community of faith that has shaped America.”

Indiana: “Review the development and fundamental beliefs of major world religions and philosophies, including Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.”

Iowa: “Explain how social, cultural, gender, and economic factors influence behavior and human interactions in societies around the world. [Editor’s note: culture includes religious beliefs and practices]”

Kansas: “Students will recognize and analyze symbols that represent the United States and Kansas, specifically as rights and responsibilities in promoting their culture. Students will gain an understanding of the meaning and purpose of national holidays and flags.”

Kentucky: “A teacher in a public school shall be permitted to Teach about religious holidays, including religious aspects, and celebrate the secular aspects of holidays.”

Louisiana: “Describe the significance of state and nationally designated holidays: …the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr., … Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.”

Maine: “Students understand the nature of history as well as the foundation of ideas by following an established procedure to locate sources appropriate to reading level and identifying a few key figures and events from personal history, and the history of the community, the state, the United States, especially those associated with historically-based traditions.”

Maryland: “Describe the social, political, and economic impacts of various world religions on a global society, such as Judaism, Christianity…”

Massachusetts: “Describe the history of ancient Israel and early Christianity… the central features of Christianity (e.g., the belief in a messiah who could redeem humans from sin, the concept of salvation, the belief in an Old and a New Testament in the Bible, the life and teachings of Jesus).”

Michigan: “Explain how world religions or belief systems of …Judaism, … Christianity, … grew and their significance… The world’s major faiths and ethical systems emerged, establishing institutions, systems of thought, and cultural styles that would influence neighboring peoples and endure for centuries.”

Minnesota: “Describe varieties of spiritual and religious beliefs and practices in the contemporary world, including, but not limited to, … Judaism, Christianity, …”

Mississippi: “Summarize the effects of early religious teachings on ancient and modern social structures (e.g., Jewish, Christian, Roman, Persian, Egyptian, Sumerian, etc.).”

Missouri: “From a historical perspective, explain the origin, structure, spread, and significant beliefs of Christianity.

Montana: “investigate the physical, political, and cultural characteristics of places, regions, and people in Montana [Editor’s note: Cultural characteristics can include religious beliefs, traditions, and practices]”

Nebraska: “Examine the impact of people, events, and ideas, including various cultures and ethnic groups, on the world. For example:…Judaism, Christianity…”

Nevada: “Identify and compare cultural practices and traditions in the U.S.”

New Hampshire: “Identify and illustrate the heritage that early settlers brought to the development and establishment of American democracy, e.g., political, legal, philosophical, or religious traditions.”

New Jersey: “Construct an argument for the significant and enduring role of historical symbols, monuments, and holidays and how they affect the American identity.”

New Mexico: “Investigate significant historical events, people, and observances and discuss their effects on local and national communities.”

New York: “Students will identify the place of origin, compare and contrast the core beliefs and practices, and explore the sacred texts and ethical codes for Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Confucianism, and Daoism.”

North Carolina: “Explain the significance of national symbols and traditions from various perspectives.”

North Dakota: “Describe national holidays or days of observance in the United States and explain why they are celebrated.”

Ohio: “Heritage includes the ideas and events from the past that have shaped the world as it is today. Evidence of heritage is revealed through diverse cultures and is shown through the arts, customs, traditions, family celebrations, and languages of groups of people. Children have opportunities to share family customs, traditions, and celebrations to develop cultural awareness. Children can discuss family celebrations' significance and why they are important.”

Oklahoma: “Describe the origins, major beliefs, spread, and lasting impact of the world’s major religions and philosophies, including Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity…”

Oregon: “Describe and compare the beliefs, the spread, and the influence of religions.”

Pennsylvania: “Identify holiday and cultural celebrations in a community and why they are celebrated.”

Rhode Island: “Analyze the beliefs and religious practices of Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam, their development, and how they changed over time (e.g., central teachings, the influence of the environment on teachings, social stratification within the religion, religious texts, religious observations).”

South Carolina: “Contextualize the origins and spread of major world religions and their enduring influence.”

South Dakota: “The student explains the major historical events, cultural features, stories, and religious contributions of the early Christians, including the origins and role of the Bible.”

Tennessee: “Describe the origins and central features of Christianity: Key Person(s) Jesus, Paul, Sacred Texts: The Bible, Basic Beliefs: monotheism, sin and forgiveness, eternal life, Jesus as the Messiah.”

Texas: “A school district may educate students about the history of traditional winter celebrations and allow students and district staff to offer traditional greetings regarding the celebrations, including (1) "Merry Christmas," (2) "Happy Hanukkah," and (3) "happy holidays."

Utah: “Summarize key tenets of the major world religions (including … Christianity… Judaism …).”

Vermont: “Analyze the combinations of cultural, environmental, and economic characteristics that make places both similar to and different from other places. [Editor’s note: Cultural aspects of a community can include religious beliefs, traditions, and practices]”

Virginia: “describing the origins, beliefs, customs, and spread of Christianity, including the persecution and eventual adoption and transmission of Christianity, New Testament.”

Washington: “What traditions, beliefs, and celebrations have been brought to the United States from around the world?”

West Virginia: “Analyze the impact of religion on classical civilizations, including the rise and growth of Christianity and Hinduism, and the effects of their beliefs and practices on daily life, changes that occurred as a result of Buddhist teachings, and the influence of a variety of religions on culture and politics.”

Wyoming: “Evaluate how human expression (e.g., language, literature, arts, architecture, traditions, beliefs, and spirituality) contributes to cultural development, understanding, and continuity (e.g., oral tradition, Pow Wows, ceremonies, and assimilation). “