In a reversal, Georgia now says districts can use state funding to teach AP Black studies classes

ATLANTA– Georgia State Superintendent Richard Woods said Wednesday that the state will pay districts to teach a new Advanced Placement course in African American Studiesa day after he said school districts could only provide the course with local money.

In light of the growing outrage, the Georgia Department of Education now says school districts are free to offer the course and the state will pay for it, as long as the districts use a code tied to an existing, state-approved course in African-American studies.

“Districts may choose to use that course code and teach some or all of the standards in the AP course, and students may take the associated AP exam,” Meghan Frick, a spokesperson for the State Department, wrote in response to questions from the Associated Press.

That reversal did little to stem the backlash against Woods’ earlier refusal. At a rally at the Georgia Capitol on Wednesday, 15 mostly Democratic speakers attacked the Republican-elect, saying he was trying to prevent students from learning about Georgia history.

“We are gathered here today in solidarity, standing with our students and teachers who have been caught off guard by an abrupt and unjust decision to remove AP African American Studies reports from our state curriculum,” said Sen. Nikki Merritt, a Democrat from suburban Lawrenceville. “This decision deprives our students of a critical opportunity to engage with and understand an important part of our shared history.”

Woods also faced pointed questions from Republican Gov. Brian Kemp, who sent a letter asking why and how Woods arrived at his original decision to block state funding. In that letter, Kemp described himself as “a longtime believer that families ultimately must make the decisions that best serve their child’s academic needs and future.”

“As you know, the well-being of Georgia’s children and their educational opportunities is one of my top priorities,” wrote Kemp, who is currently on an economic recruitment trip to Italy.

Woods did not explain his refusal in detail. In a statement Wednesday, he said only that he was “concerned about the state’s approval of the entire course.”

Stan DeJarnett, chairman of the State Board of Education, said in a statement that “nothing is stopping a Georgia school system from offering this course if they choose,” reiterating the department’s current position that school districts can use state money even if the state does not list the course in its catalog.

All other Advanced Placement courses are listed in the state course catalog, Frick said.

Supporters of the course on Wednesday rejected the state’s new position, saying Georgia’s original refusal to recognize the course was discriminatory.

“It’s not OK to suggest that the rate is somehow lower,” said state Rep. Jasmine Clark, a Democrat from suburban Lilburn.

The College Board, a nonprofit testing organization, offers Advanced Placement courses across the academic spectrum, including math, science, social studies, foreign language, and fine arts. The courses are optional and taught at the college level. Students who score well on a final exam can usually earn college credit.

Sara Sympson, a spokeswoman for the College Board, said 33 schools in Georgia have piloted the African American Studies course for the 2023-2024 academic year. Many schools expected to offer the final version of the course this year.

But the Advanced Placement course gained national attention in 2023 when Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis, preparing for his presidential campaign, said he ban the course in his state because it pushed a political agenda. In June, South Carolina officials also refused to add the course to their list of approved courses. South Carolina said individual districts could still choose to offer the course.

In Arkansas, State officials have said the course will count for college credit in the coming school year. Last year, they denied such credits, but six schools offered the pilot course anyway.

Some school districts across the country have also refused to offer the course.

In 2022, Georgia lawmakers passed a ban on teaching divisive racial concepts in schools, banning claims that the US is “fundamentally or systematically racist,” and mandating that no student “should feel discomfort, guilt, fear, or any other form of psychological distress because of his or her race.”

So far, 18 states have passed such bans. It’s unclear whether Georgia’s law influenced Woods’ decision.

Some districts have promised to offer the classes even if the state doesn’t pay for them. The Atlanta district made that promise Tuesday. The larger DeKalb County School District, which had told students and teachers it was canceling classes, said Wednesday it would offer the course at four of its high schools. Michael Thurmond, CEO of DeKalb County government, pledged up to $100,000 to help cover the cost.

Gwinnett County spokesman Bernard Watson said the situation “has changed.” While that district, the state’s largest, has not reversed its decision to cancel classes at six high schools, Watson said Gwinnett County is working with state officials “to explore options for this course.”