College Board releases framework of new AP course denounced by DeSantis
UPDATE: The Florida Department of Education is currently reviewing the newly released AP African American Studies framework for corrections and compliance with Florida law.
Earlier story follows:
TALLAHASSEE - Days after Governor Ron DeSantis banned AP African American Studies, the College Board, the non-profit which oversees the course has revised its curriculum.
And that's part of what the Miami-Dade County Black Affairs Advisory Council discussed at their meeting Wednesday.
"The issue for us now is Angela Davis matters to us?" Stephen Johnson, a board member asked.
Along with that, is whether these changes will make it any easier for students to take the course.
"I believe in a broader view of academic freedom, so I welcome thought and debate," Marcus Bright, an author who came out to the meeting said.
Taking a look at the framework that was released, the concerns from Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida Department of Education cited such as intersectionality, Black Queer studies, Black Lives Matter, and reparations were all not required coursework.
"We're on the wrong side of the line for Florida's standards," DeSantis said at a press conference where he criticized the draft curriculum earlier this week. He called it a "political agenda".
Now the state's concerns do appear on page 218. It notes for a course project topics on Black Lives Matter, intersectionality, gay life in Black communities are not formally adopted but can be researched.
The 226 page framework at a glance is divided into sections, it covers African diaspora, slavery, reconstruction, and Black politics, as well as Black Power and Black women's voices; some feel that's inadequate without the topics that have been removed.
"The fundamental thing here, we are taxpayers and taxpayers are funding education, they're funding the entire budget of the State of Florida and I think that we need to be heard before the priorities are put on the table before the supermajority in the legislature," Pierre Rutledge, Board Chair said.
The Miami-Dade County Black Affairs Advisory Council plans to write a letter to the Governor, and issue action items this Friday. CBS4 will have an update then.
On Wednesday night, in a unanimous vote, the city of Miramar denounced DeSantis' ban on the advanced placement course on African American studies for high school students.
City leaders announced the resolution at Wednesday's city commission meeting.
The mayor of Broward's largest black-populated city, Mayor Wayne Messam says he will not be silent on the governor's actions.
He introduced a resolution to denounce the ban.
"We are celebrating Black History Month and the city of Miramar, a very diverse community. Many African Americans and those who choose and would like to learn about the African American experience don't have that option as it stands right now, today."
Mayor Messam says he hopes other cities will also publicly denounce the governor's actions.
