Framework for AP African American Studies course to be updated

FLORIDA’S GOVERNOR SAYS HE BELIEVES A HIGH SCHOOL COURSE ON AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY WAS CLEARLY DESIGNED FOR POLITICAL PURPOSES. STEWART: AS WESH 2’S POLITICAL REPORTER GREG FOX EXPLAINS, RON DESANTIS TALKED ABOUT THE A.P. COURSE TODAY AND SAYS MORE DETAILS ABOUT THE COURSE CURRICULUM ARE COMING TO LIGHT. >> WE HAVE GUIDELINES AND STANDARDS IN FLORIDA. WE WANT EDUCATION, NOT INDOCTRINATION. REPORTER: REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS STOOD BY THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION DECISION TO DENY THE COLLEGE BOARD THE OPPORTUNITY TO RUN A PILOT AP OR ADVANCEMENT PLACEMENT COURSE ON AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDIES IN ONE OR MORE HIGH SCHOOLS. THE DOE FOUND CONCERNS IN SIX AREAS OF THE CURRICULUM, INCLUDING THE TEACHING OF CRITICAL RACE THEORY, OR CRT THE TEACHING OF THEORIES ABOUT RACISM’S EFFECT ON CURRENT GOVERNMENT POLICY, THE JUSTICE SYSTEM AND SOCIAL INTERACTION. IT REJECTED KEY WRITINGS BY DR. ANGELA DAVIS, AN ACTIVIST AND FORMER COMMUNIST PARTY MEMBER. A PORTION OF THE COURSE CALLED MOVEMENTS FOR BLACK LIVES WAS DISMISSED FOR SUGGESTING SOME CORPORATIONS PROMOTE WHITE SUPREMACY. AND ANOTHER TOPIC? BLACK QUEER STUDIES. >> QUEER THEORY, NOW WHO WOULD SAY THAT AN IMPORTANT PART OF BLACK HISTORY IS QUEER THEORY? THAT IS SOMEBODY PUSHING AN AGENDA ON OUR KIDS. AND SO WHEN YOU SEE THEY HAVE STUFF ABOUT INTERSECTIONALITY, AND ABOLISHING OUR PRISONS. THAT’S A POLITICAL AGENDA. REPORTER: DEMOCRATS AND OTHER CRITICS OF THE STATE MOVE TO REJECT THIS AP COURSE BELIEVE THE GOVERNOR IS NOT BEING HONEST ABOUT HIS TRUE MOTIVES. >> I AM INSULTED, PERSONALLY. WHEN THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SAYS AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY HAS NO EDUCATIONAL VALUE. REPORTER: DEMOCRATIC ORLANDO STATE SENATOR GERALDINE THOMPSON, A FORMER EDUCATOR, BELIEVES THE REAL MOTIVE BEHIND THE GOVERNOR’S OPPOSITION TO THE AP COURSE, WHICH WOULD BE OFFERED AS A COLLEGE CREDIT ELECTIVE, NOT A REQUIREMENT IS TO SUPPRESS THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF PEOPLE OF COLOR. >> IT SEEKS TO WHITE WASH HISTORY AND TO ERASE THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF PEOPLE LIKE ME, PEOPLE WHO HELPED TO BUILD THIS COUNTRY. REPORTER: THE COLLEGE BOARD INTENDS TO CONTINUE DEVELOPING THE AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDIES PROGRAM TO OFFER IT TO ALL U.S. HIGH SCHOOLS BY FALL 202

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Framework for AP African American Studies course to be updated

The College Board, the non-profit organization that designs and manages the Advanced Placement courses, announced Tuesday that the framework for the course will be updated.This comes after Florida’s Department of Education’s decision to deny the College Board the opportunity to run a pilot AP course on African American Studies in one or more high schools.The DOE found “concerns” in six areas of the curriculum, including the teaching of critical race theory and the teaching of theories about racism’s effect on current government policy, the justice system and social interaction. It rejected key writings by Dr. Angela Davis, an activist and former Communist Party member. A portion of the course called “Movements for Black Lives” was dismissed for suggesting some corporations promote white supremacy. And lastly, the topic of Black Queer Studies.“Who would say that an important part of Black history is queer theory? That is somebody pushing an agenda on our kids,” Gov. Ron DeSantis said. “And so when you see they have stuff about intersectionality and abolishing our prisons. That’s a political agenda.”The College Board said the final framework will be released on Feb. 1.”Before a new AP course is made broadly available, it is piloted in a small number of high schools to gather feedback from high schools and colleges,” the organization wrote in a statement. “The official course framework incorporates this feedback and defines what students will encounter on the AP Exam for college credit and placement. We are grateful for the contributions of experts, teachers, and students and look forward to sharing the framework broadly.”Top headlines:Orlando leaders advance plan to add restrictions for bars, nightclubs downtownBody cam video shows police pleading with wife accused of killing husband in Daytona Beach hospitalCentral Florida educators react to Gov. DeSantis’ teachers bill of rights

The College Board, the non-profit organization that designs and manages the Advanced Placement courses, announced Tuesday that the framework for the course will be updated.

This comes after Florida’s Department of Education’s decision to deny the College Board the opportunity to run a pilot AP course on African American Studies in one or more high schools.

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The DOE found “concerns” in six areas of the curriculum, including the teaching of critical race theory and the teaching of theories about racism’s effect on current government policy, the justice system and social interaction. It rejected key writings by Dr. Angela Davis, an activist and former Communist Party member. A portion of the course called “Movements for Black Lives” was dismissed for suggesting some corporations promote white supremacy. And lastly, the topic of Black Queer Studies.

“Who would say that an important part of Black history is queer theory? That is somebody pushing an agenda on our kids,” Gov. Ron DeSantis said. “And so when you see they have stuff about intersectionality and abolishing our prisons. That’s a political agenda.”

The College Board said the final framework will be released on Feb. 1.

“Before a new AP course is made broadly available, it is piloted in a small number of high schools to gather feedback from high schools and colleges,” the organization wrote in a statement. “The official course framework incorporates this feedback and defines what students will encounter on the AP Exam for college credit and placement. We are grateful for the contributions of experts, teachers, and students and look forward to sharing the framework broadly.”

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