College Board Makes Changes to AP African American Studies Course Following Backlash

Hundreds of people took part in a protest organized by the National Action Network in reaction to the attempts made by Governor Ron DeSantis to limit inclusive education. The demonstrators marched from Bethel Missionary Baptist Church in Tallahassee, Florida to the Capitol building while chanting slogans and holding signs Wednesday, February 15, 2023. USA TODAY

By: Adonis Armstrong

The College Board has announced additional changes to the AP African American Studies course following backlash over the removal of certain topics, which had been criticized by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.

The nonprofit organization is responsible for overseeing the Advanced Placement program and standardized tests such as the SAT and PSAT exams, stated that a development committee and experts in the AP program will determine the specific details of these changes over the coming months.

This comes after the College Board engaged in a public dispute with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, a potential front-runner for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination, and the state's Department of Education. Earlier this year, Florida rejected a preliminary pilot version of the AP African American Studies class, citing a lack of educational value and a state law that prohibits the teaching of critical race theory. He also used his opposition to "wokeness" to gain national attention in the ongoing conversation about how to teach history and address racism in schools, leading to the passage of legislation in Florida that prohibits instruction that implies anyone is privileged or oppressed based on their race or skin color.

The College Board stated their main goal in developing the course was to provide access to a subject that is not commonly available to high school students, and to make this content accessible to as many students as possible. According to the board the AP African American Studies course is currently undergoing a pilot run in 60 high schools, and will be introduced to 800 schools and 16,000 students in the next academic year. The first administration of the AP African American Studies exam is expected to take place in the spring of 2025.

The College Board provides Advanced Placement (AP) courses covering various academic fields, such as mathematics, science, social studies, foreign languages, and fine arts. These courses are not mandatory and are taught at a collegiate level. Typically, students who attain high scores on the final exam are eligible to receive course credit at their university.

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