
Last week the state of Florida rejected a new Advanced Placement African American studies course citing compliance with Florida state law and a lack of “educational value.” Tuesday the non-profit that oversees the Advanced Placement courses announced that the course would be revised and updated.
College Board did not indicate that the revision was a direct response to Florida’s pushback but did imply that it was a response to feedback they have received from pilot schools:
“On Wednesday, February 1, the first day of Black History Month, the Advanced Placement Program will release the official framework for the AP African American Studies course. This framework, under development since March 2022, replaces the preliminary pilot course framework under discussion to date,” said College Board via a statement. 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 official course framework incorporates this feedback and defines what students will encounter on the AP Exam for college credit and placement.”
Though it is unclear if the revision is a direct response to their rejection the Florida Department of Education issued its own statement praising College Board for changing the course material:
“We are glad the College Board has recognized that the originally submitted course curriculum is problematic, and we are encouraged to see the College Board express a willingness to amend. AP courses are standardized nationwide, and as a result of Florida’s strong stance against identity politics and indoctrination, students across the country will consequentially have access to an historically accurate, unbiased course.
As Governor DeSantis said, African American History is American History, and we will not allow any organization to use an academic course as a gateway for indoctrination and a political agenda. We look forward to reviewing the College Board’s changes and expect the removal of content on Critical Race Theory, Black Queer Studies, Intersectionality and other topics that violate our laws.”
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