Georgia’s education system is under fire after State Superintendent Richard Woods decided not to endorse the AP African American Studies course for statewide adoption.
Despite a successful two-year pilot involving 33 schools, this decision has stirred controversy and concern over its impact on students.
In response, State Representative Segun Adeyina and other Democratic members of the House Education Committee have released a fact sheet to outline the consequences of this move and argue for the course’s importance.
What’s the Issue?
Superintendent Woods claims that the AP African American Studies course might conflict with Georgia’s law against teaching “divisive concepts” in schools. This vague term refers to ideas that some believe could create division, such as certain topics within African American history. As a result, the course isn’t getting the green light to be officially added to Georgia’s curriculum.
What About State Funding?
Initially, some school districts feared they’d lose state funding if they offered this course. The Georgia Department of Education later clarified that districts could still get funding if they use a state-approved code for African American Studies. This workaround was used during the pilot phase to keep the course running.
Impact on Students
- College Credit: Six colleges in Georgia, and over 350 nationwide, offer credit for passing the AP African American Studies exam. So, taking this course can help students earn college credit before even leaving high school.
- Transcripts and GPA: Schools can list the course on transcripts as an AP class. However, unlike other AP courses, this one doesn’t automatically get extra GPA weight for the HOPE Scholarship, potentially affecting students’ scholarship opportunities.
Legal Concerns for Schools
Schools thinking about offering this course need to check with lawyers to ensure they’re not breaking any state laws. The risk of legal challenges looms if the course is seen as conflicting with existing regulations.
Course Creation and Testing
The College Board, known for developing AP courses, piloted the AP African American Studies course with 33 schools in Georgia. This was a standard process aimed at introducing new educational content.
Funding Issues
While schools can use an existing course code to get state funding, they end up with less money than they would for other AP courses because students aren’t labeled as “gifted” during this class period.
By the Numbers:
- Pilot Program: 33 schools participated in the pilot.
- Exam Results: 550 students took the exam, and 78% scored a 3 or higher, showing the course’s effectiveness.
- Teacher Training: 55 teachers were trained to teach the course at a cost of $44,000.
Why Does It Matter?
According to Democratic lawmakers, this rejection is unprecedented; no other AP course has faced such a denial from the Georgia State Board of Education. With all board members being appointed rather than elected, the lawmakers are raising concerns about the lack of public input in this decision.
The Bigger Picture
Democratic lawmakers argue that cutting out this course denies students a vital part of their education. They’re pushing for more inclusive education that represents all aspects of American history, aiming to ensure every student can learn and appreciate the full story of the nation.
The Fact Sheet
You can read the fact sheet here:
