As Predicted, “Divisive Concepts” Law Led to Censorship Attempt
(Atlanta • August 7, 2024) Today, Advanced Placement (AP) African American Studies was added to the state-approved course catalog in Georgia, following several weeks of controversy sparked by the Georgia State Superintendent’s recommendation that the course be denied state approval. Its inclusion ensures Georgia students will be able to access and receive college credit for the class, which highlights the diversity of African American experiences and contributions to our society.
After Georgia State Superintendent Richard Woods announced that he would not recommend the course for approval and state funding, many advocates, including IDRA, activated to immediately condemn the decision and demand the course be given the same treatment as every other AP course available in Georgia.
“This is a win for every student in Georgia because every student should have access to high-quality, inclusive curricula to prepare them for a strong future,” said Mikayla Arciaga, M.A.Ed., IDRA Georgia Advocacy Director.
“This reversal would have been impossible without the collective organizing of education advocates from across the state,” she said.
The announcement of the inclusion of AP African American Studies came in a statement from Superintendent Richard Woods. Previously, Superintendent Woods had recommended the State Board of Education not approve the course because, he argued, the content violated Georgia law (HB 1084) prohibiting the discussion of “divisive concepts” in schools. However, according to the law and confirmed in a letter from the Attorney General of Georgia, AP (including AP African American Studies), International Baccalaureate, and dual enrollment courses are exempt from the prohibitions in HB 1084.
As IDRA and many other advocates argued when the legislature debated HB 1084 in 2022, the bill was not at all about protecting students. It was part of a coordinated national campaign to control educator and student speech, whitewash history, and erase the contributions of communities of color and LGBTQ+ people. Even with exclusions for certain courses, the law remains a threat to free and critical thinking in our public schools.
“What we predicted about the impact of the classroom censorship law, HB 1084, has indeed come to pass – a state leader attempted to use the law to deny Georgia students access to coursework about the contributions of communities of color, in this case, AP African American Studies,” said Terrence Wilson, J.D., IDRA Regional Director of Policy and Community Engagement.
“Discussing African American history, the contributions of Black people, and the diverse, intersectional movements they have led for justice and inclusion is not divisive,” he said.
As IDRA celebrates the inclusion of AP African American Studies in the state-approved course catalog, we also celebrate the leadership of the many education advocates from across the state who worked to secure this win. In close partnership with students, families, and other advocates, IDRA remains committed to securing inclusive, responsive learning experiences for every student, including through the repeal of censorship legislation like HB 1084.
For more information about our work on AP African American Studies and securing access to ethnic studies for all students in Georgia, see our cultural and ethnic studies webpage. And for teacher lesson plans, visit the IDRA SEEN Resource Hub.
Media Contact: Thomas Marshall III, M.Ed., IDRA Policy Communications Strategist (thomas.marshall@idra.org)
IDRA is a national independent, non-profit organization. Our mission is to achieve equal educational opportunity for every child through strong public schools that prepare all students to access and succeed in college.
