The AP African American Studies situation, explained
Image: Marta Lavandier/AP
On Wednesday, the College Board released a revised curriculum for its new Advanced Placement African American Studies course, which is being offered in 60 US high schools this academic year, and hundreds more during the 2023-24 year.
The announcement came nearly two weeks after Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) barred the new AP African American Studies course from being taught in public high schools statewide. He cited a leaked draft of the original curriculum that officials said violated a state law regulating how race is taught in schools, and also “significantly lack[ed] educational value.”
- The Florida Dept. of Education listed six problems with the College Board’s pilot curriculum: Black Queer Studies, Intersectionality and Activism, Movement for Black Lives, Black Feminist Literary Thought, The Reparations Movement, and Black Struggle in the 21st Century.
🤔 So, what’s in the updated course?... The College Board removed required teachings on intersectionality, the Black Lives Matter movement, reparations for slavery, “Black struggle in the 21st century,” Black queer studies, and affirmative action, instead choosing to list them only as examples of optional projects. The organization also added a new example of an optional project called “Black conservatism.”
- In a statement, the College Board said its course revisions weren’t due to any political pressure, but had been completed in December after consultation with 300+ college professors of African-American Studies, as well as high school teachers currently piloting the new AP class.
👀 Looking ahead… It’s unclear if the College Board’s revisions will change the course’s status in Florida public high schools. A spokesperson for Gov. DeSantis said the state education department is currently reviewing the updated curriculum for compliance with Florida law.
📊 Flash poll: How do you feel about the College Board’s new changes to its AP African American Studies course?
See a 360° view of what media pundits are saying →
Sprinkles from the Left
- Some commentators argue that the course revisions represent an attempt to appease both its supporters and critics, and will ultimately end up hurting students who sign up expecting a comprehensive study of the African American experience.
- Others contend that professional educators and historians – who do this type of thing for a living – should be in charge of determining which content makes its way into AP courses, not politicians.
- “Watering down AP African American studies is a disservice to students” –Suneal Kolluri, LA Times
- “Let the College Board do its job on African American Studies” –Chicago Sun Times Editorial Board
- “It’s not American history without Black history” –Eugene Robinson, WaPo
Sprinkles from the Right
- Some commentators argue that the changes the College Board made are unequivocally for the better, as they eliminate most or all traces of Critical Race Theory from the curriculum.
- Others contend that the situation should be viewed as a huge success for Gov. DeSantis, who had basically all of his demands met by the College Board – even though they technically said they weren’t caving to political pressure.
- “Ron DeSantis Schools the College Board” –WSJ Editorial Board
- “Big Win for DeSantis in Battle over AP African-American Studies” –Stanley Kurtz, National Review
- “Pritzker confronts DeSantis’ culture war” –Chicago Tribune Editorial Board
Share this!
Recent Discussion stories
Discussion
  | February 1, 2023ChatGPT and the future of teaching
🏫🤖 One of the UK’s top private schools has stopped assigning written homework in English classes, saying ChatGPT has made it obsolete.
Discussion
  | January 30, 2023The Tyre Nichols situation
🚨 On Friday evening, the city of Memphis released video footage of the Jan. 7 traffic stop that led to the death of 29-year-old Black motorist Tyre Nichols.
Discussion
  | January 27, 2023A closer look at mass attacks in America
đź“ť In a first-of-its-kind report published Wednesday, the US Secret Service analyzed trends across nearly 200 mass attacks that have occurred in public spaces around the country in recent years.
You've made it this far...
Let's make our relationship official, no 💍 or elaborate proposal required. Learn and stay entertained, for free.👇
All of our news is 100% free and you can unsubscribe anytime; the quiz takes ~10 seconds to complete