In one of the fastest reversals in Georgia’s educational history, the state’s Superintendent, Richard Woods, decided Wednesday (July 24) to walk back his original decision preventing state-wide funding for Advanced Placement African American Studies Programs (AP Af-Am).
Lesa Milan talks ‘Real Housewives of Dubai’
This decision comes following multiple protests after Woods told Georgia school districts just the day before that if they wanted to keep AP Af-Am in schools, they would need to find a way to fund it themselves.
In his original statement, Woods said the state would only provide funding to schools if they use a course code from 2020 — a course that did not qualify for AP credit. Many advocates of the AP Af-Am course said Woods’ refusal to fund the AP course would suppress teaching about Black history.
Backlash from community leaders and school districts quickly followed Woods’ Wednesday announcement. The original decision to pull funding came only days before Georgia schools are set to open for the school year. Outraged educators called Woods’ move a waste of time and money, according to 11 Alive.
Multiple districts fought back in protest. Atlanta Public Schools (APS) immediately announced they would pay for the course without state help, but for lesser funded districts like Gwinnett County, things were still up in the air.
In a statement by an APS spokesperson, the district said it “will provide the course to students with local funds. AP African-American Studies will continue to count for credit toward graduation. This district is committed to providing rigorous instruction that helps our students become globally-minded citizens.”
The Georgia Association of Educators said the state’s choice to pull funding was disappointing, especially when measured “against the backdrop of the approval of the AP European History class,” reported WSB-TV.
Even the state’s Gov. Brian Kemp sent a letter to Woods questioning his decision to pull funding. The letter, obtained by Fox News, emphasized his office held no real stake in the Department of Education’s decision, but Kemp listed several questions for Woods to answer.
States like Florida and South Carolina have banned AP Af-Am from being taught in public schools, but fortunately, Georgia has not joined that short list.
In reaction to Woods’ reversal, Georgia Rep. Dr. Jasmine Clark said in a statement, “This shows the power of the voices of the people!” She continued saying the “reversal, on principle, is great, and honors the fact that this course should have never been on the chopping block in the first place.”
Going forward, school districts will receive funding from the state to use the new AP Af-Am Studies course rather than paying for it out of pocket. This is a win for Black students hoping to study their history on a deeper level.
