State School Superintendent Richard Woods Wednesday defended his decision not to recommend adding an Advanced Placement African American studies course to the state’s curriculum offerings during the upcoming school year.
Woods’ decision, which was announced Tuesday, drew a barrage of criticism from education groups and Democrats, who argued that failing to move forward with an AP course that was piloted in several school districts this year would deny students an inclusive education that tells the full history of America.
In a two-paragraph response, Woods countered that schools will retain the ability to teach some or all of the standards in the AP African American studies course if they choose to do so.
“When I reviewed the AP course, I had concerns about the state endorsing the totality of the course,” he wrote. “It’s my position that districts should use the existing course code — which offers them the flexibility to develop their own curriculum based on local priorities — or to use standards from the AP course if they choose and in consultation with their communities.”
Woods also stated that districts that choose to use the African American Studies course code that has been in the Georgia Department of Education’s catalog since 2020 will receive state funding.
The superintendent’s decision touched a nerve with educators and Democratic lawmakers, who mounted intense opposition to “divisive concepts” legislation pushed through the General Assembly by Republican legislative leaders two years ago.
The 2022 bill, which passed along party lines, prohibited teaching U.S. history in a way that might make any student feel guilty or that they are superior or inferior to anyone else based on their race.
While Republicans argued the measure did not ban the teaching of slavery or the civil rights movement in Georgia schools, Democrats said the potential penalties included in the bill would have a chilling effect on teachers.
