In Another Reversal, Georgia Will Fund AP African American Studies
Credit: Image Credit: Klaus Vedfelt / DigitalVision / Getty Images- Georgia will fund the AP African American Studies course after receiving a letter from the state attorney general saying that Georgia law 20-1-11 does not prohibit AP, IB, and dual-enrollment courses.
- The decision comes after numerous back-and-forth decisions to fund or prohibit the course.
- Georgia State School Superintendent Richard Woods previously apologized for the confusion caused by the back-and-forth decisions about whether or not the state would fund the AP course.
- Woods previously argued that the “intersectionality” portion of the course was the “most glaring violation” of Georgia Code 20-1-11, which prohibits curricula that teach “divisive concepts.”
After a series of back-and-forth decisions, Georgia will fund the Advanced Placement (AP) African American Studies course in its school systems.
Georgia State School Superintendent Richard Woods made the decision Aug. 7 after seeing the attorney general’s letter stating that AP, International Baccalaureate (IB), and dual enrollment courses are unaffected by Georgia Code 20-1-11, which originated from state House Bill 1084 prohibiting curricula that teach “divisive concepts.”
Woods took issue with the course’s teaching of intersectionality. Intersectionality is how different forms of discrimination overlap. The New York Times reported that the course explores topics such as Black feminism and police violence.
Woods previously said that if the course presented a competitive narrative with opposing views, it could be argued it didn’t violate the divisive concepts law.
According to Georgia, “divisive concepts” include the idea that one race is better than another, feeling guilty for belonging to a particular race, and saying systemic racism exists.
Woods said in a previous press release that he was seeking legal clarification on the subject and that if the ruling reverses his decision, he would follow the law.
“As I have said, I will follow the law. In compliance with this opinion, the AP African American Studies course will be added to the state-funded course catalog effective immediately,” Woods said in the Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE) press release.
Now, AP courses will not have to have a recommendation by the state superintendent or Board of Education, nor a vote to adopt them into or deny them from the state’s course catalog. Every AP course in the state catalog will now have this disclaimer as a result of the clarification:
“Advanced Placement (AP) courses and their instructional frameworks and curriculum are solely owned and endorsed by the College Board. The contents of these courses have not been reviewed or approved by the Georgia Department of Education.
“As with any curriculum, school districts should use a process for reviewing, approving, and adopting AP courses and instructional frameworks that engages students, parents, educators, and community stakeholders. Curricula and training should abide by state and local policies, including House Bill 1084 — which requires that the curriculum of exempted AP courses be implemented in a professionally and academically appropriate manner and without espousing personal political beliefs.”
The latest decision follows a series of back-and-forths about whether the state would fund the AP course. Georgia first introduced a course on African American studies in 2020. Here’s a timeline of the prior GaDOE decisions.
July 31: GaDOE Decides Not to Fund AP African American Studies; Teachers Can Use Content Within Classes
Woods apologized July 31 for the confusion behind the Georgia Department of Education’s communication about whether AP African American Studies would be offered this coming school year.
“To all, I wish to begin by apologizing for how I failed to effectively communicate my rationale for not recommending this specific course for approval to the state Board of Education,” Woods wrote in a GaDOE press release.
“After reviewing the content, it was clear that parts of the coursework did violate the law. As with most states with laws like Georgia on this issue that have raised concerns, the most glaring violation is on the topic of intersectionality.”
Georgia school districts can still use the AP course standards and framework without approval from the superintendent or Board of Education. And students can still take the AP test to “possibly receive college credit.”
If this decision stayed, teaching the AP content would’ve carried a risk. Woods said this content could still be challenged for violating the divisive concepts law if all content is adopted.
“Once again, I offer my deepest apologies for my communication error and pledge to take the necessary steps to ensure that it will not happen again,” he concluded.
GaDOE Approves AP African American Studies and Offers AP Test
On July 24, Woods released a statement saying he had concerns about the course but ultimately would allow AP African American Studies curricula to be taught within the non-AP, state-funded African American Studies course. Students could also take the AP test.
“Should districts choose to do so, they may teach some or all of the standards in the AP African American Studies course using this code (and students may take the associated AP exam),” he wrote.
“It’s my position that districts should use the existing course code — which offers them the flexibility to develop their own curriculum based on local priorities, or to use standards from the AP course if they choose and in consultation with their communities.”
GaDOE Decides to Stop Funding for AP African American Studies
According to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (AJC), Woods declined to fund the AP African American Studies course after the state piloted it in the 2023-2024 school year at 33 state schools. Schools could still teach the AP course but without funding.
Atlanta Public Schools (APS) sent this statement to the AJC:
“Atlanta Public Schools’ charter system status gives us the flexibility to continue offering Advanced Placement (AP) African American Studies, even though it will not be supported with state funding. APS will provide the course to students with local funds. AP African American Studies will continue to count for credit toward graduation. This district is committed to providing rigorous instruction that helps our students become globally minded citizens.”
The state’s decision sparked backlash from state representatives, the education nonprofit Southern Education Foundation, and teachers. With the decision announced close to the start of the school year, students’ schedules and teachers’ planning for the year were affected.
One Gwinnett County teacher who was supposed to teach the course told the AJC, “Teachers report back for school on Thursday, and I don’t know what I’m teaching.”
This isn’t the first time the AP course has faced criticism. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis battled with the College Board, the course’s provider, last year after banning the course from his state’s schools due to its inclusion of “woke” ideology.