College Board: States Didn’t Influence Our New African American Studies Course

The DeSantis administration made the decision earlier this month to bar high school students from taking the new course, fearing classes would be held “contrary” to state law that limits how race is taught in the classroom and that it “seriously lacks educational value”.

DeSantis, who said the original courses were “pushing an agenda,” won the victory this week after the College Board announced changes could be expected when the framework was unveiled on Feb. 1. The state’s comments included removing lessons flagged by Florida officials, such as pieces on “Black Queer Studies,” advocating for reparations, activism, and intersectionality, which is a component of the critical race theory.

Critical race theory is the study of how racism has been woven into American laws and institutions throughout history. Most public school officials across the country say they don’t teach theory.

“We are pleased that the College Board has acknowledged that the originally submitted course curriculum is problematic, and we are encouraged to see the College Board express a willingness to modify it,” said Alex Lanfranconi, director of communications at Florida. Department of Education. statement on Wednesday. “AP courses are nationally standardized and, due to Florida’s strong stance against identity politics and indoctrination, students nationwide will therefore have access to a historically accurate and unbiased course.”

On Wednesday, Pritzker urged the College Board to “refuse to bow to political pressure” and stay the course. “I am extremely disturbed by recent news reports that claim Governor DeSantis is pressuring the College Board to modify the AP African American Studies course to accommodate the racist and homophobic laws of the Florida,” he wrote, adding that he “will not accept any dilution.” ” Of the history.

The College Board, in its Thursday letter to its members, said the course “has been shaped only by the input of experts and longstanding AP principles and practices.” More than 300 African American studies professors from more than 200 colleges across the country, including dozens of historically black colleges and universities, were consulted in developing the official course framework. The one-year framework development process was completed in December.

“We invite everyone to read the framework for itself when it is published; it is a historic document that deserves your attention,” the College Board letter read.

Andrew Atterbury and Shia Kapos contributed to this report.