California ethnic studies plan would be a first in U.S.

The California Department of Education has posted a draft of its proposed ethnic studies curriculum — the first state-level curriculum on the academic subject in the country — and is asking for public feedback.

Until Aug. 15, members of the public can view the high school curriculum on the department’s website, fill out a feedback form and send it to ethnicstudies @cde.ca.gov.

The publication of the draft curriculum marks a step in the implementation of a bill passed in 2016 that requires the State Board of Education to develop an ethnic studies curriculum by 2020 to serve as a guideline for local school districts.

Districts would not be required to implement the model curriculum, according to the Education Department. Rather, “schools and districts may use it when developing an ethnic studies curriculum that best addresses local student needs,” the website says.

Since the draft was posted on June 14, the Department of Education has received 67 pieces of feedback as of Tuesday night, according to spokesman Scott Roark.

“Public comment is a vital part of the transparent regulatory process when developing curriculum,” Roark said. “Every comment will be read and evaluated.”

After the period for public feedback ends, the Instructional Quality Commission, an advisory committee to the State Board of Education, will review all comments and amend the draft. The commission will then present the curriculum to the Board of Education tentatively in early 2020, when the board will choose to either to accept or make changes to the curriculum.

The draft — created by an advisory committee of high school teachers and college professors chosen by the State Board of Education — emphasizes the purpose of instituting ethnic studies in high school education.

“As the demographics continue to shift in California to an increasingly diverse population... there is a legitimate need to address the academic and social needs of such a population,” the introduction of the draft curriculum reads. “All students should be better equipped with the knowledge and skills to successfully navigate our increasingly diverse society.”

One of the advisory committee members who drafted the curriculum, Woodland Community College professor Melissa Moreno, said a challenge in writing the curriculum was making it easy to use for educators across the state.

“It was really challenging because we felt there was this long history and knowledge that we wanted to build on,” Moreno said, “but we were asked to create something basic and elementary for any teacher to pick up and utilize.”