Florida Denies AP African American Studies Course, Cites Lack of ‘Educational Value and Historical Accuracy’

“The course is a vehicle for a political agenda,” said DeSantis’ press secretary.

QUICK FACTS:

• The Florida Department of Education (DOE) disapproved of the College Board’s AP African American Studies course, claiming that it contradicts current Florida law.
• The DOE rejected the course due to its critical race theory (CRT) content, as well its a section on “Black Queer Studies.”
• Governor Ron DeSantis’ (R-FL) press secretary Bryan Griffin described the course as a “vehicle for a political agenda” that leaves room for “ideological material” that goes against state statutes.
• “As Governor DeSantis has stated, our classrooms will be a place for education, not indoctrination,” Griffin added.
• “As presented, the content of this course is inexplicably contrary to Florida law and significantly lacks educational value,” Florida’s Office of Articulation wrote to Brian Barnes of the College Board Florida Partnership.
• The College Board hopes to send the course to hundreds of high schools during the 2023-2024 school year.

The Florida Department of Education has rejected AP African American Studies. This letter to the College Board Florida Partnership says the course is “inexplicably contrary to Florida law and significantly lacks educational value.” pic.twitter.com/yy2rsUNF2L

— Justin Schecker (@WFLAJustin) January 19, 2023

FROM THE COURSE:

• The “Black Queer Studies” topic is “grounded in Black feminism and intersectionality” and moves “sexuality studies toward racial analysis.”
• Another topic is dedicated to “Afrocentricity” and its impact on culture.
• “‘Postracial’ Racism and Colorblindness” claims to study “postracialism, colorblindness, racecraft, or inequality through a scholarly text.”
• A section on “Medicine, Technology, and the Environment” sees students studying “inequities” and “opportunities for change.”
• There’s even a topic dedicated to the “origins, mission, and global influence” of the Black Lives Matter movement.

BACKGROUND:

• The state of Florida has launched numerous attacks on woke ideologies.
• American Faith reported that Gov. DeSantis requested state colleges and universities provide information on funding for “woke” curricula, CRT, and “diversity, equity, and inclusion” training.
• Florida also prohibited funding from going toward environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) programs pushing an “ideological agenda.”

DeSantis Probes ‘Woke’ Diversity Curriculum Spending in Florida Universities

DeSantis Blocks Funding for ESG Efforts in Florida