Georgia’s Attorney General, Chris Carr, stated that a new Advanced Placement course in African American Studies does not breach the state’s ban on teaching divisive racial concepts since the law exempts AP and similar college-level courses for high school students. Carr’s decision, conveyed in a letter to state Rep. Will Wade, author of the 2022 measure, comes after Georgia’s Superintendent of Schools, Richard Woods, sought an opinion on the matter. Woods previously declined to recommend the course for approval by the state Board of Education, citing concerns about its compliance with the law.
State Rep. Will Wade expressed hope that Woods would reconsider his stance and support the course, emphasizing the importance of addressing the concerns of Georgia’s students, teachers, and parents. Several districts have refrained from offering the course without official state approval, leading to a contentious debate within the education sector.
Woods, who had come under criticism from both Democrats and Republican Governor Brian Kemp, has refrained from commenting on the issue, but indicated that he may revisit the matter. The Advanced Placement course has attracted national attention, with Florida’s Governor Ron DeSantis announcing a ban on the course in his state in 2023, and South Carolina officials opting not to approve it, although individual districts there could still choose to offer the course.
The College Board, a nonprofit organization that administers Advanced Placement courses, has emphasized that the African American Studies course is grounded in academic scholarship and aims to educate rather than indoctrinate students. Carr highlighted that the law mandates instructors to teach in a professional and academically sound manner without promoting personal political beliefs, but exempted AP courses from the scope of the legislation.
Georgia’s ban on teaching divisive racial concepts, stemming from a directive by former President Donald Trump, prohibits assertions that the U.S. is systemically racist and aims to prevent students from experiencing psychological distress based on their race. As of now, 18 states have passed similar prohibitions. Districts that violate the law could face repercussions, including losing exemptions from state regulations.
Richard Woods, expressing reservations about how the course handles the concept of intersectionality, which examines overlapping systems of discrimination or disadvantage, particularly concerning race and gender, stressed that the course touches upon 74 mandated topics. Despite varying responses from different districts, the Atlanta, DeKalb County, and Cobb County school districts have committed to offering the course in some high schools, whereas Gwinnett County, the state’s largest district, has opted not to provide the course due to concerns about student eligibility for the HOPE Scholarship merit program.
