Georgia's attorney general has stated that the new Advanced Placement (AP) course in African American Studies does not breach the state's 2022 law against teaching divisive racial concepts. Attorney General Chris Carr clarified in a letter to the Republican state representative who authored the measure that the course is exempt because it is an AP course. Georgia's Superintendent of Schools, Richard Woods, had previously refrained from recommending the course, believing it violated the law. Carr expressed hope that Woods would reconsider his decision: "I really hope that Richard will make a decision as soon as possible and alleviate the concerns of Georgia students, teachers, and parents."
The AP African American Studies course in Georgia has been contentious after the state did not adopt the pilot program. Some districts have refused to include it without state approval, while others, like DeKalb County, decided to fund it independently. Conversely, the Gwinnett School District initially chose not to offer the class due to concerns about funding and its impact on students' GPAs for the H.O.P.E. Scholarship. Following the attorney general's clarification, Gwinnett County Public Schools decided to offer the course.
Dr. Calvin J. Watts of Gwinnett County Public Schools announced that the AP African American Studies course would be available for the current school year, following State Superintendent Richard Woods' decision to include it in the state-funded course catalog. Watts acknowledged the challenges caused by the delay but praised the community's advocacy for ensuring the course's availability: "While this is a victory in many ways, the State Superintendent's actions caused undue burden on our schools and pain to many in our community, including our students. However, I am grateful for the collective advocacy of our students, families, staff, and community to do what is right for our students. I am sorry that we went through this, but I am happy that in the end, our students can take this course and receive the full AP experience and rewards of completing the course successfully."
Last year, nearly all students in Gwinnett's pilot program earned college credit from the AP exam, demonstrating the course's academic value. Despite Woods' concerns about intersectionality and the presentation of overlapping discrimination systems in the course, Georgia's law exempts AP courses from the prohibitions on teaching certain racial concepts.
The state law, derived from a now-repealed executive order, prohibits teachings that could cause students psychological distress based on race. The law also allows appeals to the state Board of Education for unresolved violations, which can result in corrective actions or loss of policy-setting exemptions for districts.
This debate over the AP African American Studies course in Georgia reflects broader national scrutiny, with similar controversies in states like Florida and South Carolina. The College Board, which administers AP courses, maintains that the course is academically sound and not intended for political indoctrination.
Link: Fox5 Atlanta
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