The California Department of Education Outlines Path for Revising and Improving Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum

SACRAMENTO—State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond announced today that the California Department of Education (CDE) has outlined a path to revise and improve the ethnic studies model curriculum draft.

The next step in the process is for the Instructional Quality Commission (IQC) to meet regarding the draft on Friday, September 20.The CDE is recommending that the IQC pause any action on the draft, take more time to revise the draft, and ultimately send it to the State Board of Education (SBE) for action in 2020.

Last week the California State Legislature approved AB 114, extending the timeline for completion of the ethnic studies model curriculum draft through March 2021. The bill now awaits Governor Newsom’s signature. If the IQC acts to extend the timeline for completing the draft, the CDE anticipates taking the following steps:

• Holding feedback sessions with ethnic studies teachers, ethnologists, experts, and interested parties to get input on what might go into the draft.
• Consulting with ethnic studies experts on what might go into the draft including convening a panel discussion of experts.
• Holding listening sessions around the state to hear from the approximately 200 districts that have successfully implemented ethnic studies curriculums.

Dr. Shirley Weber, Assemblymember and IQC member, has agreed to serve on the ethnic studies panel and consult with the CDE and SBE staff to complete the model draft curriculum. Weber is a 40-year educator of Africana Studies who has helped establish ethnic studies in K–12 curriculum throughout the State of California.

To send suggestions for revisions to the curriculum, email ethnicstudies@cde.ca.gov [Note: the preceding email adddress is no longer active]. More information about the ethnic studies model curriculum can be found on the CDE Model Curriculum Projects web page.

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Tony Thurmond — State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Communications Division, Room 5602, 916-319-0818, Fax 916-319-0100