Ethnic Studies Professional Development

Ethnic Studies Professional Development Project

Section 132 of the Education Omnibus Trailer Bill (Assembly Bill 130) for the 2021–22 California State Budget appropriated $5 million from the General Fund for the California Department of Education (CDE), in collaboration with, and subject to the approval of, the executive director of the State Board of Education (SBE), to contract with a county office of education (COE), or consortium of COEs to provide local educational agencies (LEAs):

• Professional development (PD) and regional training for teachers, administrators, and paraprofessionals to support creation or expansion of ethnic studies course offerings, including, but not limited to, courses that use the ethnic studies model curriculum (ESMC).
• An online repository of resources to support ethnic studies courses. This includes the collection and review of materials to be made available for educators to use in implementing the ESMC.

Professional learning provided pursuant to this section shall be content focused, incorporate active learning, support collaboration, use models of effective practice, provide coaching and expert support, offer feedback and reflection, and be of sustained duration.

Ethnic Studies in California Background

Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum

In 2016, Assembly Bill 2016 , Chapter 327 (Statutes of 2016), required the Instructional Quality Commission (IQC) to develop, and the SBE to adopt, a model curriculum in ethnic studies. The bill also encouraged each school district and charter school that maintains grades nine through twelve to offer a course of study in ethnic studies based on the model curriculum. The initial deadline for SBE action was March 31, 2020.

The adopted ESMC is aimed at empowering students by illuminating the often-untold struggles and contributions of four groups central to ethnic studies: Native Americans, African Americans, Latino/a/x Americans, and Asian Americans. The document includes University of California and California State University a–g-approved ethnic studies course outlines and lessons that expand beyond the four traditional disciplines of ethnic studies to help local districts tailor a course to meet local student needs.

While its use is not mandated, the curriculum is intended to supply local school districts with the background, ideas, and examples to begin local discussions on expanding ethnic studies offerings. The ESMC also encourages schools to include discussions on the ethnic heritage and legacies of students in their communities.

Additional information about ESMC adopted by the SBE on March 18, 2021, is available from the Model Curriculum Projects web page.

Assembly Bill 101

On October 8, 2021, the Governor signed AB 101 , titled Pupil instruction: high school graduation requirements: ethnic studies.

Please visit the Career and College Transition Division web page for additional information about the requirements outlined in this legislation.

Ethnic Studies Professional Development Contract

The Budget Act of 2021 required the CDE, with approval of the executive director of the SBE, to select a COE, or a consortium of COEs, to enter into a contract to provide PD and resources to support LEAs offering new and expanded ethnic studies courses.

The Ethnic Studies Professional Development (ESPD) Request for Application (RFA), Funding Profile, and Funding Results are below:

ESPD RFA Web Page

Funding Profile

Funding Results

The timeline for the selection process is provided below.

The resulting contract with the San Diego COE for the California Regional Ethnic Studies Collaborative (CRESC) Project was approved by the Department of General Services on December 30, 2022. Please visit the San Diego COE Equity Programs web page for additional information about the CRESC Project.

Program Authorization

AB 130, Statutes of 2021 Section 132