AUHSD Governing Board Approves AP African American Studies Course

By Hailee Shah and Saaj Shah, Staff Writers

// On Dec. 6, the Advanced Placement (AP) program introduced its framework for the AP African American Studies course, which will officially commence in the 2024-2025 school year. The class entails the diverse history, culture, and literature of African Americans and the African diaspora.
 The Acalanes Union High School District (AUHSD) Governing Board passed a 5-0 vote on Dec. 13 to include AP African American studies in AUHSD’s curriculum. While the course’s start date is undecided, the board plans to begin implementation as soon as possible.
 ”There are plans, and there are teachers who are interested in starting it up just as early as the start of this upcoming year [2024]. From what I’ve heard, that’s going to be the plan…I know that there is interest at all the schools to start this class, but I can’t say for certain that it is going to be at all schools,” AUHSD Governing Board President Christopher Grove said.
 Some community members have advocated for the introduction of the course in hopes of enriching the Acalanes student body by providing them with a comprehensive understanding of history.
 ”Acalanes implementing it already shows how important this class can be in students’ lives, as it’ll give them an expansive view of the history of our country,” Associated Student Body Vice-President and senior Gabe Gardner said.
 Many hope the Acalanes community will benefit from introducing this course as it teaches a historical standpoint typically underrepresented by other classes and environments.
 ”This class will be very beneficial to Acalanes and its community. As much as we would like our other classes to cover this subject, they don’t,” Gardner said.
 Additionally, teachers believe that the AP African American studies course will help students better understand the people around them.
 ”For the community at large, I think it makes us better-rounded citizens when we know about the history and culture of each other,” AP Comparative Government and World History teacher Joseph Schottland said.
 The AUHSD hopes that the passing of this new course will foster an environment that opens the box to new experiences and stories.
 ”It is going to be a really good step in the direction of creating a school community where we’re learning truly about the world out there, not just the bubble that can be created,” Grove said.