State to support districts in offering new course on African American Studies following backlash from educators and officials.

Georgia’s state Superintendent Richard Woods announced on Wednesday that the state will now provide funding for districts to offer the newly developed Advanced Placement (AP) African American Studies course, reversing his previous stance. This decision comes a day after Woods initially stated that districts would have to use local funding to offer the course.

The Georgia Department of Education clarified that districts may choose to use a course code linked to a state-approved African American studies course, allowing them to teach all or part of the AP course content. Students who opt for the course can also take the associated AP exam.

Despite the reversal, the state’s shift did little to quell the backlash from various political figures and groups. At a rally held at the Georgia Capitol, several Democratic speakers criticised the original decision, accusing Woods of attempting to prevent students from learning about the state’s history. State Senator Nikki Merritt expressed outrage, stating that the decision deprived students of the opportunity to understand a significant part of American history.

Governor Brian Kemp, a Republican, also challenged Woods’ initial decision, seeking clarification on the reasoning behind blocking state funding. In a letter, Kemp emphasised the importance of education and family choice, stressing his commitment to prioritising the wellbeing of Georgia’s children.

Woods offered minimal explanation for his initial refusal, citing concerns about endorsing the full scope of the AP course. Meanwhile, Stan DeJarnett, chair of the State Board of Education, reiterated that schools were free to offer the course and could use state funds, even if the course was not officially included in the state catalog.

However, critics have labelled the state’s original stance as discriminatory. State Representative Jasmine Clark argued that to suggest the course was inferior was unacceptable. The AP African American Studies course has been the subject of national attention, with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis attempting to block it in his state, citing concerns about political bias, and South Carolina officials also refusing to approve it.

The College Board, which offers AP courses across various subjects, has been piloting the African American Studies course in Georgia schools, with 33 schools participating during the 2023-2024 academic year. Many of these schools had hoped to offer the finalised version of the course this year.

Supporters of the course maintain that Georgia’s reluctance to officially recognise it was rooted in political and ideological concerns. In 2022, Georgia lawmakers passed a ban on teaching divisive racial concepts in schools, further complicating the state’s stance on the new AP course.

As of now, 18 states have implemented similar bans on teaching divisive racial concepts in schools, but it remains unclear whether Georgia’s legislation influenced Woods’ decision.