Politicization of Public Education: Florida AP African American Studies

Educators are sharing their frustrations following reports of the Florida Board of Education discontinuing the option of AP African American studies classes for high school students. These concerns involve criticism of the College Board for appearing to bow to political pressure in its course development, and questions regarding the implications of this decision for other states and role of politics and censorship in education organizations.

  • “Because Florida passed a law making it illegal for kids to learn about systemic racism, intersectionality & queer people in their public schools, @CollegeBoard is going to change their AP African American Studies course for the entire country?Y’all see where this is going, right?” —Educator in New York
  • “So if College Board is consistently going to make choices that value their profits over the interest of serving students—why should they get to keep their ‘non-profit’ label and the tax benefits that come with it? Just a personal wondering…” —High School English Teacher in Oregon
  • “Are you kidding me? Ron DeSantis gets to single-handedly determine what the AP curriculum looks like in the rest of the country? Neither DeSantis nor the @CollegeBoard should have this level of unilateral control. We’ve ceded so much.” —High School Social Studies Teacher in Iowa
  • “Awful, but not surprising. Textbook manufacturers, publishers like Heinemann, and the College Board consistently water down, whitewash, and tailor their educational materials to the whims of the most restrictive states in hopes of keeping their business.” —Teacher in New Jersey
  • “This is part of a normal review cycle for AP Board. DeSantis and his thugs are just using it to leverage the moment. The Florida educational system is deteriorating as we speak and these clowns are posing for the cameras.” —Educator in California
  • “We are a nation of divisions that continue to deepen and entrench. It is so sad that Florida voters and their elected officials are FIGHTING to perpetuate Racism in their schools by denying African Americans their educational voices.” —Middle School Teacher in Texas