State School Superintendent Richard Woods of the Georgia Department of Education recently addressed criticism surrounding state funding for Advanced Placement (AP) African American Studies courses. Woods explained that there has been a non-AP African American Studies course code available for state-funded courses since 2020, allowing school districts to teach some or all of the AP course standards using this code.
Woods clarified that he chose not to recommend the AP course for approval to the State Board of Education due to concerns about certain content violating Georgia law, specifically related to the topic of intersectionality. He expressed his commitment to upholding the law and ensuring that course materials comply with legal requirements.
Despite this decision, districts still have the option to offer courses on African American Studies using the existing non-AP course code or to adopt the AP course standards and framework without explicit approval. Students may take the associated AP exam for potential college credit, but the content may be subject to local challenge if it is found to violate state law.
Woods acknowledged his failure to effectively communicate the rationale behind his decision and apologized for any confusion that may have resulted. He emphasized the importance of following the law and stated that he would seek legal clarification on the matter to ensure compliance moving forward.
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