An Orlando church says it will host an AP African American Studies course that students from across the country can sign up for, which may help them earn college credit. The community stepped up after Florida changed how Black history is taught in schools.Audubon Park Covenant Church has been serving Orlando for nearly 70 years. The church recently opened a free library called “Right to Read: Audubon Park Community Library.””We talked about various things that we wanted to do in connection with this as a library, and one of the things that came up was access to information that was being limited,” said Pastor Sarah Robinson, who leads the church. Robinson recently shared a flyer on her social media pages that reads, “AP African American Studies Course Registration now open!” The church is partnering with a teacher and other volunteers to host it. More than 400 people from across the country have registered.”The reality is students, but not just students, so many of us recognize that we were raised without having a lot of this background,” Robinson said. “We were like, ‘gosh, I wish something like that existed when we were in high school.'”Earlier this year, Gov. Ron DeSantis said he would ban AP African American Studies in Florida schools because he felt it pushed a political agenda.The College Board made changes to the curriculum following the pushback. The State Board of Education then approved new Black history standards in public schools. It stirred controversy because it included the teaching of a perspective that some Black people benefited from slavery.Pastor Robinson says it fueled the community to do something. “Even as much as we wanted to make sure students had access to this, we wanted it,” Robinson said. The church says the course will have a hybrid schedule. There will be online readings at least once or twice a month, and sometimes they’ll meet in person. “I’m going to be taking the class, and I’m very excited,” Robinson said. “I looked at the curriculum, and especially the first few modules are all about the history of Africa. I think it’s going to be really eye-opening and important.”The church says registered students have received emails that explain the coursework, but they’re still sorting out the schedule.Top headlines: Listen to news and weather headlines with the WESH 2 podcast 3 children among 4 victims shot at Palm Bay apartment, police sayHail falls in Central Florida during fierce lightning storms
An Orlando church says it will host an AP African American Studies course that students from across the country can sign up for, which may help them earn college credit.
The community stepped up after Florida changed how Black history is taught in schools.
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Audubon Park Covenant Church has been serving Orlando for nearly 70 years.
The church recently opened a free library called “Right to Read: Audubon Park Community Library.”
“We talked about various things that we wanted to do in connection with this as a library, and one of the things that came up was access to information that was being limited,” said Pastor Sarah Robinson, who leads the church.
Robinson recently shared a flyer on her social media pages that reads, “AP African American Studies Course Registration now open!” The church is partnering with a teacher and other volunteers to host it. More than 400 people from across the country have registered.
“The reality is students, but not just students, so many of us recognize that we were raised without having a lot of this background,” Robinson said. “We were like, ‘gosh, I wish something like that existed when we were in high school.'”
Earlier this year, Gov. Ron DeSantis said he would ban AP African American Studies in Florida schools because he felt it pushed a political agenda.
The College Board made changes to the curriculum following the pushback. The State Board of Education then approved new Black history standards in public schools. It stirred controversy because it included the teaching of a perspective that some Black people benefited from slavery.
Pastor Robinson says it fueled the community to do something.
“Even as much as we wanted to make sure students had access to this, we wanted it,” Robinson said.
The church says the course will have a hybrid schedule. There will be online readings at least once or twice a month, and sometimes they’ll meet in person.
“I’m going to be taking the class, and I’m very excited,” Robinson said. “I looked at the curriculum, and especially the first few modules are all about the history of Africa. I think it’s going to be really eye-opening and important.”
The church says registered students have received emails that explain the coursework, but they’re still sorting out the schedule.
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