ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia's state superintendent of schools, Richard Woods, announced Wednesday that he believes a new Advanced Placement (AP) course in African American Studies violates the state's law against teaching divisive racial concepts. This decision means he will not recommend the course for approval as a state-approved course. Woods, a Republican, had previously expressed vague concerns about the course but had not explicitly stated his reasons for blocking its approval.
Georgia's 2022 ban on teaching divisive racial concepts, which is based on a now-repealed executive order from President Donald Trump, prohibits claims that the U.S. is "fundamentally or systematically racist." The law also mandates that no student "should feel discomfort, guilt, anguish, or any other form of psychological distress because of his or her race." As of now, 18 states have enacted similar bans.
The AP African American Studies course has faced scrutiny nationally, particularly after Florida's Republican Governor Ron DeSantis banned the course in his state in 2023. Similarly, South Carolina officials refused to approve the course, though they allowed individual districts to offer it. The College Board, which offers AP courses, describes the African American Studies class as "a dynamic and robust course that is rooted in academic scholarship," and denies that it seeks to indoctrinate students.
Woods' claim contradicts a specific exemption in Georgia law for AP and other high-level college courses. State Representative Will Wade, a Republican who wrote the law, pointed out this exemption, suggesting that such concepts could be taught in AP courses. Woods has also previously stated that districts could teach the AP material and receive state funding by listing it as an introductory African American studies course approved by the state in 2020. However, he now argues that teaching the AP material under this guise could expose districts to legal challenges.
The superintendent is seeking a legal opinion from Attorney General Chris Carr to determine whether the carve-out would protect AP courses. Despite this, his spokesperson, Meghan Frick, indicated that Woods may not recommend the course for approval even if Carr's office deems it legal.
Woods has faced criticism not only from Democrats but also from Republican Governor Brian Kemp, who has asked pointed questions about the course. Under the state law, if a violation is alleged and not resolved locally, it can be appealed to the state Board of Education, which could order a corrective action plan or revoke a district's exemptions from state rules if non-compliance occurs.
Concerns about the course's presentation of intersectionality, a framework for understanding the effects of overlapping systems of discrimination, have been a particular focus for Woods. He argues that if the course had presented a comparative narrative with opposing views on such topics, it might not violate Georgia law. However, the College Board maintains that intersectionality is one of 74 required topics in the course.
Advocates like Mikayla Arciaga, who leads Georgia advocacy efforts for the Intercultural Development Research Association, are calling for the repeal of the divisive concepts law, arguing that "Being Black in America should not be a divisive concept." Despite Woods' decision, several school districts in Georgia, including Atlanta, DeKalb County, and Cobb County, have stated they will offer the course in some high schools. Conversely, Gwinnett County, the state's largest district, has decided not to offer the course, primarily due to concerns about students not receiving credit that could impact eligibility for the HOPE Scholarship.