They include Little Rock Central High School, known for the 1957 desegregation crisis. Six schools were slated to offer the course in Arkansas this year, according to the College Board. The pilot program debuted last school year at 60 schools across the country, and was set to expand to more this year. The College Board website describes the course as interdisciplinary, touching on literature, arts, humanities, political science, geography and science. When asked whether there’s anything in the course that currently raises that concern, Education Secretary Jacob Oliva said that would have to be part of the review process of the final version. “Without clarity, we cannot approve a pilot that may unintentionally put a teacher at risk of violating Arkansas law,” Mundell said. Arkansas education officials cited the ongoing revisions. The College Board revamped its course following Florida's decision, but faced criticism that it was bowing to political pressure.
“The department encourages the teaching of all American history and supports rigorous courses not based on opinions or indoctrination,” Department spokeswoman Kimberly Mundell said in a statement.
The department cited a state law enacted this year that places restrictions on how race is taught in school but did not say the course violates those prohibitions. The department said the class, which is offered at a handful of schools in Arkansas, could still count toward students' grade point averages.īut the Education Department said the class couldn't be part of the state's advanced placement course offerings since it's still a pilot program and hasn't been vetted by the state yet. The Arkansas Department of Education didn't bar schools from offering the course, as Florida did earlier this year when it told the College Board it violated state law. Arkansas education officials on Monday said an Advanced Placement course on African American studies won't count toward a student's graduation credit, prompting criticism from Black lawmakers who said the move sends the wrong message.
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