The state’s department of education in Florida has decided to ban an advanced placement course on Black history due to concerns of "educational value and historical accuracy" as well as alleged violations of state law. A letter was sent by the Florida Department of Education to the College Board, the organization responsible for developing AP courses, informing them of the ban. The department stated that the content of the course was against Florida law and lacked educational value. However, they expressed openness to discussing the course if it adhered to the law and historical accuracy.
Following the ban, the College Board released a statement defending the course, stating that it had undergone a rigorous pilot phase and had received feedback from teachers, students, scholars, and policymakers. The ban received criticism from education experts and professors who viewed it as an attempt to censor African American history. The White House also condemned the ban, with Vice President Kamala Harris emphasizing the importance of learning about the contributions and experiences of Black Americans.
The consequences of the ban for teachers currently teaching the course in Florida remain unclear, as the Florida Department of Education has not provided further clarification on the matter.
Florida is among a number of states that have implemented policies restricting certain lessons on race and racism. The state’s Stop W.O.K.E. law specifically targets critical race theory and the New York Times’ 1619 Project. Critical race theory, although an academic theory analyzing systemic racism, has been misinterpreted and used to ban diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. Governor Ron DeSantis has signed additional bills limiting education on critical race theory and sexual and gender identity.
These restrictions on lessons about race and gender have a deterrent effect on teaching accurate and honest lessons about Black history in Florida, according to experts. It is anticipated that other conservative states may follow suit in passing similar laws.
The Commissioner of Education, Manny Diaz, Jr., tweeted that the course was blocked due to its inclusion of critical race theory and other violations of Florida law. He shared a document listing sections of the proposed course that the department considered inaccurate or unlawful.
In summary, the ban of the advanced placement course on Black history in Florida has raised concerns about censorship and limitations on teaching accurate lessons on race and racism. The decision has faced criticism from education experts and professors, as well as condemnation from the White House. The broader context of Florida’s restrictions on lessons about race and gender adds to the concern over the impact on education in the state.
Jessie, an educator who works with Black students in Northern Virginia, emphasized that Black history is non-negotiable. She expressed her dissatisfaction with labeling it as African American history, highlighting that it should not be defined solely by the decisions made by the Florida Legislature and College Board. Governor DeSantis reemphasized the Department of Education’s statement during a press conference, stating their preference for education rather than indoctrination.
Governor DeSantis defended the decision to ban the course by providing examples of topics that were included, such as queer theory, intersectionality, and the abolishment of prisons. He criticized the use of black history as a platform for promoting political agendas, specifically targeting the inclusion of queer theory. E. Patrick Johnson, the Dean of Northwestern’s College of Communication, argued that the AP African American Studies course is necessary to educate young individuals comprehensively about the history of African Americans, including those who identify as LGBTQ.
Johnson emphasized that individuals who are not scholars of African American history should leave the decision-making regarding its content to experts in the field. He called attention to the fact that influential writers such as James Baldwin and Audre Lorde, whose works were mentioned in the Department of Education document, are the architects of Black Queer Theory.
The College Board’s lack of response to Florida’s decision to ban the course did not surprise some. In their statement, the College Board did not directly address the ban but rather stated that revising course frameworks is a normal part of developing a new AP course. They suggested that course frameworks often undergo significant changes. According to Jessie, this statement suggests that the College Board may modify the course to comply with Florida legislators’ demands. Although she found the organization’s lack of resistance disappointing, she was not surprised. She criticized the College Board for its unwillingness to condemn racism and restrict the freedom to explore history from different perspectives.
College Board did not grant an interview but instead provided the aforementioned statement. Last March, when Florida passed its anti-CRT (Critical Race Theory) law, the College Board cautioned against censorship in AP courses, emphasizing their commitment to intellectual freedom for both teachers and students. However, this week, the organization announced that the finalized version of the course will be released on February 1st, replacing the temporary version that was under debate. Whether the new course will address the concerns raised by the DeSantis administration was not specified.
Regarding the impact on teachers and students, Jessie explained that the loss of the course would not have a significant academic effect since it was an elective. However, she acknowledged that students may miss out on some competitive advantage by not taking the course. She also believed that schools and college admissions officers would be aware of the ongoing debate surrounding AP electives in Florida.
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