By Bryan Boggiano
The Coral Springs city commission will vote on a resolution that would urge Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida Department of Education to rescind the state’s rejection of the inclusion of the original version of Advanced Placement (AP) African American Studies.
It would also urge the governor not to reject any other AP courses in the Florida course code directory and instructional personnel assignments.
The commission will discuss and vote on the matter at their March 1 meeting at city hall, starting at 6:30 p.m.
The College Board, which administers AP courses, AP exams, and SAT exams, gives high school students the opportunity to earn college credits. College educators create the courses to prepare students for college-level coursework, according to the resolution.
In order for courses to have AP designations, the College Board audits them to make sure they satisfy certain curriculum requirements, the resolution states.
However, on Jan. 12, the state wrote a letter to the College Board stating AP African American Studies is “inexplicably contrary to Florida law and significantly and lacks educational value.”
The course’s rejection came after the governor signed the Stop WOKE Act and Parental Rights in Education Act into law in 2022, which limits classroom discussions on race, gender, and sexuality.
College Board eventually revised the course to fit the state’s education standards.
Despite the revisions, Gov. DeSantis floated the idea of Florida reevaluating its ties with College Board or cutting AP classes.
The commission discussed the matters at their Feb. 22 commission workshop. Commissioner Nancy Metayer Bowen discussed crafting the resolution and bringing it to a vote. Commissioners previously discussed the matter at their Feb. 1 meeting.
If Coral Springs passes the resolution, clerk Georgia Elliott will transmit a copy of the condemnation to Gov. DeSantis and the Florida Department of Education.
The city follows Lauderhill and Miramar, which passed resolutions condemning the state’s actions surrounding AP African American Studies on Jan. 30 and Feb. 1, respectively. The Parkland City Commission will also consider a similar resolution at their March 1 meeting.
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Author Profile
- Bryan has a degree in journalism from the University of Florida and earned his masters in geosciences from Florida International University, where he focused in atmospheric sciences. His interests include weather, entertainment, and municipal government.
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6 comments
Time and time again I read articles regarding this AP Course vs DeSantis and there is no mention of the reason behind the rejection from DeSantis. This article is no different.
True and fair journalism would include that the course has four sections. The initial three cover African American history delving into slavery and complies with what has been taught and will continue to be taught. It is the FOURTH section which covers queer black history, Black Lives Matter’s and Angela Davis’ Marxism teachings that is considered political. This last section is the one that is being rejected.
My hopes are that journalism will one day return to just stating the facts without the lies of omission.
Why is the fourth section being rejected?
I could turn it around and ask that if it would be Ben Carson, Thomas Sowell, and Tim Scott’s teachings ….all conservative, then is that educational or political?
Why just one side?
The fourth section addresses social and cultural movements and issues. You examples would autobiography in nature and not a review of large movements with collective the thoughts of many.
I agree with you. Kids should learn about BLM. How it became a national movement that unfortunately led to several riots, burning and looting of cities. That the organization’s leadership spent money on mansions for themselves with the towns affected still in ashes.
I would even push for the life of Angela Davis to be taught. With the inclusion of her ancestral history of coming in the Mayflower and owning slaves.
Both of these issues would be a valuable lesson.
What towns were left in ashes? Is looting and burning a few building the same as looting and burning of cities? How many cirties had these riots? Please tell me what cities were burned and looted. Was it the Capitol on Jan 6?
Yes you are correct that some of the leadership of BLM did profit from their role in the movement, but the movement still has social merit.
Again, your examples are autobiography/singular in nature and not a review of larger movements with the collective thoughts of many looking to address social injustices.