California to Make History by Mandating Ethnic Studies for High School Students
By Faiza Zia Khan
Newport Beach, CA
The state of California is famous for its year round sunny weather, sandy beaches, palm trees, but above all, the diversity of its population. The multicultural populace of California makes the landscape a very colorful mosaic of ethnic presence in the state.
Omni-present diversity did not make way for formal recognition in the state's legislature to educate students in celebrating different cultural backgrounds of Californians. Now California is set to make history by becoming the first state to mandate such a high school requirement in the nation with the passage of AB-331, a bill that requires high school students to take ethnic studies as a graduation requirement. Once Governor Gavin Newson signs this bill AB-331, the High School Ethnic Studies Bill will become legislation once passed by the Senate. In order for the start date of 2029-30 to be implemented California school districts would have to offer the course in the 2025-26 school year.
The state would have to allocate and provide additional funding to accommodate preparation and resources for a smooth transition to the new course. Some amendments suggest autonomy for the local school districts or charter’s governing bodies to implement a locally developed ethnic studies course instead of a statewide model curriculum that is being discussed and planned at the moment. Depending on the local school districts structure and choice this would provide flexibility to adopting a course curriculum pertinent to the needs of the school. According to the state completion of this Ethnic Studies course will provide credit towards satisfying one of the English or Social Studies courses required for graduation. Hence, it will not add further burden to the total course load expected to be completed by the students.
In 2021 the State Board of Education has to adopt the model curriculum but it has been stated that the model curriculum is intended to serve as a guide and not mandated to be followed as it is. The model curriculum is an all-encompassing guideline that puts a focus on all students regardless of their ethnic background or race, “... to enable a better understanding of others, promoting self-empowerment for civic engagement, and fostering interpersonal communication. The preamble recognizes that content that challenges conventional ideals or prompts difficult conversation may be controversial.”
Not only do sample lessons and materials take a deep dive into issues like the persecution of Native Americans, Mexican Americans as well as their influence in shaping the state’s political landscape and culture but also on police profiling and the bans on African-Americans. Even if these issues are touched upon briefly in the course plans the idea behind this model is to start the conversations that have been avoided for years and create awareness in the keen minds of high-schoolers.
Governor Newsom has already signed a similar bill into law that requires a mandatory ethnic studies course to graduate from the California State University (CSU) system. This is slated to start from the 2021-22 academic year for students. CSU was initially opposed to the legislation stating financial and budgetary costs to implement the new course requirement. They forecasted approximately $16.5 million annually in incremental costs when this law goes into effect next year. In lieu of the state mandated course CSU had proposed its own ethnic studies graduation requirement with courses ranging from social justice to history, gender, and culture. However, this proposal was shot down by ethnic studies faculty members and the union known as California Faculty Association (CFA). CFA hailed the signing of the legislation by Newsom as historic as calls for inclusion and diversity are much needed in this day and age.
These measures have been in negotiations for years but took stronger force in the light of recent events. The most recent push came in the middle of nationwide unrest and protests supporting anti-racist behavior and a need for systemic change ignited by several racially motivated injustices across the country.
In preparation for this bill to become law, the California Department of Education (CDE) has already prepared a draft of the state’s model curriculum. According to the California State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Tony Thurmond, “The model curriculum remains rooted in four foundational disciplines of ethnic studies - African American Studies, Asian American Studies, Chicano Latino Studies, and Native American and Indigenous Studies. Our schools have not always been a place where students can gain a full understanding of the contributions of people of color and the many ways throughout history (and present day) that our country has exploited, marginalized, and oppressed them. At a time when people across the nation are calling for a fairer, more just society, we must empower and equip students and educators to have these courageous conversations in the classroom. I am proud to submit these recommendations for a draft Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum that will not only serve as a roadmap for educators, but hopefully inspire action across the nation,” said Thurmond.
It has been a bumpy road for this legislation as eighty groups reached out to the Governor opposing the signing of this bill into law. Rationale for this opposition was based on fears that it could be a “politically charged, polarizing, and divisive critical ethnic-studies approach instead of favoring a multicultural approach that celebrates and unites.”
Regardless of the criticism this bill if reinforced into law will start a change that gives formal cognizance to ethnic groups. It will teach our youth of the future greater acceptance and tolerance, harmonizing co-existence with respect and admiration for each other’s diversity one step at a time.
(Faiza Zia Khan holds a Master’s in Journalism degree from the University of British Columbia, Canada. She has collaborated with news media outlets, including Global National, and actively volunteers for several community investment projects for the Red Cross, United Way and the Breast Cancer Foundation)
