Gov. Ron DeSantis has rejected a College Board request to implement a new AP African American studies course in Florida, asserting that it violates state law. According to a report by National Review, the Florida Department of Education sent a letter to College Board on January 12 stating, “as presented, the content of this course is inexplicably contrary to Florida law and significantly lacks educational value.”
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The letter suggests that the course violates the Stop Wrongs to Our Kids and Employees Act (WOKE), which prohibits Florida schools from inserting discriminatory ideology into their curriculum. It directly challenges ideas like Critical Race Theory and white privilege often taught in classrooms.
"Again, for the College Board to keep the APAAS curriculum secret while simultaneously asking states to approve the course for high school and college credit is indefensible. This secrecy validates long-standing concerns about the College Board’s acting as a de facto unelected https://t.co/vtL3VoszM3
— Ruth Joy (@RuthJoy96960173) January 18, 2023
The APAAS course is currently in its testing phase and is being piloted at just 60 schools nationwide. According to College Board’s website, it is being primed for a nationwide launch in 2024. It is not known where the course is currently being taught.
"the College Board has clothed the course in secrecy. The curriculum has not been publicly released, nor have the names of the approximately 60 schools at which the pilot is being tested."
Lack of transparency is probably one of the issues. https://t.co/aIKRI5HWf9
— Sarcastic Cupcake (@SarcasticCupcak) January 18, 2023
The College Board has refused to release details about their African American studies course, leaving much of the curriculum shrouded in secrecy. A September report from National Review alleges that the course advocates an overthrow of capitalism, drawing from the works of several Marxist academics.
“The long and short of it is that APAAS promotes leftist radicalism. The sheer one-sidedness of the readings establishes that… Governors, legislators, and state and local education officials must act accordingly.” Stanley Kurtz, National Review
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The Department of Education said it would reconsider its decision if College Board revised the program to be “lawful” and “historically accurate.”
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