![Georgia's Education Department revered its decision not to fund AP Black studies class in high schools after public criticism.](https://san.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/CLEAN-AP-BLACK-STUDIES_Getty-Images_featuredImage_Thu-Jul-25-2024.jpg?w=1920)
AN ABOUT FACE FROM GEORGIA’S SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS – HE NOW SAYS THE STATE *WILL* PAY FOR DISTRICTS TO TEACH A NEW ADVANCED PLACEMENT COURSE IN AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDIES.
ON TUESDAY – HE SAID STATE MONEY WOULD *NOT* BE USED FOR THE COURSE… BUT DIDN’T SAY WHY.
THAT SPARKED BACKLASH – WITH CRITICS SAYING THE DECISION WOULD SUPPRESS TEACHING BLACK HISTORY… AND COMPARING IT TO SIMILAR DECISIONS IN OTHER STATES, LIKE FLORIDA AND ARKANSAS.
GEORGIA’S BOARD OF EDUCATION – WHICH IS APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR – MUST APPROVE A CLASS FOR IT TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR STATE FUNDING, WHICH HELPS PAY FOR A TEACHER’S SALARY AND CLASS MATERIALS.
THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT ORIGINALLY SAID GEORGIA WOULD NOT APPROVE THAT FUNDING FOR THE A-P BLACK STUDIES COURSE – IT WOULD BE LEFT UP TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IF THEY WANTED IT TAUGHT IN THEIR DISTRICT.
THAT LED SOME DISTRICTS TO SAY THEY’D HAVE TO CANCEL THE CLASS FOR HIGH SCHOOLS.
PUBLIC OUTRAGE WAS SWIFT – AND WITHIN 24 HOURS… THE SUPERINTENDENT ANNOUNCED THE STATE *WOULD* FUND THE COURSE AFTER ALL – AS LONG AS DISTRICTS USE A CERTAIN CODE LINKED TO AN ALREADY EXISTING AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDIES COURSE APPROVED BY THE STATE.
DESPITE THE REVERSAL, SUPPORTERS OF THE COURSE ARE STILL VOICING CONCERNS – SAYING GEORGIA’S ORIGINAL REFUSAL TO RECOGNIZE THE COURSE WAS DISCRIMINATORY.
THE SAME A-P COURSE DREW NATIONAL ATTENTION IN 20-23 – WHEN FLORIDA GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS BANNED IT THERE… SAYING IT PUSHED A POLITICAL AGENDA.
MEANWHILE, IN ARKANSAS – STUDENTS WHO TAKE THE COURSE THIS UPCOMING SCHOOL YEAR *WILL* GET CREDIT FOR IT.
THEY DIDN’T LAST YEAR BECAUSE STATE OFFICIALS WEREN’T SURE IF THE CLASS BROKE A STATE LAW RESTRICTING HOW RACE CAN BE TAUGHT.