Georgia Superintendent Adds Advanced Placement African American Studies to State Funding List

Georgia’s school superintendent announced Wednesday that the Advanced Placement (AP) African American Studies course will now be included in the state course catalog and eligible for state funding. This decision follows last month’s refusal to add the course due to concerns about a law on teaching racial topics.

Superintendent Richard Woods initially decided against adding the course, citing H.B. 1084, a law that restricts teaching “divisive” racial concepts. However, after receiving clarification from the state attorney general, Woods reversed his decision. The attorney general’s clarification confirmed that the law does not prevent local schools from offering college-level classes like AP African American Studies.

The law, passed in 2022, bans nine racial concepts deemed “divisive” from classroom instruction. The attorney general’s letter, sent to state Rep. William Wade, confirmed that AP, IB, and dual enrollment courses are not affected by these restrictions as long as they are presented in an academically appropriate way.

Woods also announced that a disclaimer will be added to all AP classes in the state catalog. This disclaimer will state that AP courses are developed and endorsed by the College Board, not by the state education department.

The AP African American Studies course, which covers the history of the African diaspora from 900 B.C.E. to the 2000s, was piloted in 2022. The American Civil Liberties Union of Georgia praised Woods’ decision but noted that students not taking college-level classes may still face barriers to comprehensive education.

AP courses are college-level classes offered to high school students by the College Board, allowing them to earn college credits. The AP African American Studies course was developed over more than a decade and has faced political challenges in various states.