DeKalb County School District vows to continue AP African American Studies

Georgia Department of Education now says Black Studies allowed in schools

DEKALB COUNTY, GA—DeKalb County School District (DCSD) Superintendent Devon Q. Horton has vowed to continue supporting the Advanced Placement (AP) African American Studies course, announcing on Wednesday that the course will be offered at four of the district’s high schools.

DeKalb’s move comes  as State Superintendent Richard Woods said on Wednesday that the state would pay for districts to teach a new AP course in black studies, a day after he said districts could only teach the course using local funds. Meanwhile, supporters for the black history course gathered at the  Capitol, demanding that the course continued to be offered.

DCSD’s Horton stated in a news release on Wednesday that DeKalb would continue providing local funding to train teachers and instructional materials for the course. The district had told students and teachers that it was cancelling the course after state officials said the course would not be allowed.  DeKalb CEO Michael Thurmond pledged to assist in keeping the AP black studies course, pledging up to $100,000 to cover the costs.

“We are committed to locally funding the necessary resources to ensure our students can benefit from AP African American Studies. This includes preparing our teachers through appropriate training, investing in instructional materials, and assisting with AP testing fees,” Horton said.

“Throughout my professional career, I have explained that students don’t fail; the systems fail our students. Our goal and responsibility must be to offer our students a comprehensive and inclusive education that reflects our community’s diverse history and culture.”

Black studies came under attack in 2022, with Georgia legislators banning teaching what was called divisive racial concepts in schools.   Meanwhile, the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus condemned Woods for his stance calling it a “step backward.”  State Rep. Carl Gilliard(D-Savannah), chair of the GLBC issued the following statement on Wednesday.

“The GLBC stands in staunch opposition to the decision to eliminate the Advanced Placement African American Studies course from the curriculum in Georgia schools. This move, driven by changes from the State Superintendent’s Office, is viewed by the GLBC as a detrimental step backwards in fostering diversity, equity and inclusion in education. Local districts, including Gwinnett County Public Schools, received state approval to pilot the course during the 2023-2024 school year, allowing participating students to earn deserving credit. However, the recent requirement of a formal course request for districts interested in offering AP African American Studies, as communicated by Dr. Aldridge, Deputy Superintendent, on July 10, 2024, has effectively halted the continuation of this important educational offering. This decision is a significant step backwards in providing students with a holistic and diverse education. African American Studies play a pivotal role in fostering understanding, empathy and appreciation of our shared history and cultural heritage. Removing this course deprives our students of a vital opportunity to learn and engage with important aspects of our society. The GLBC calls for a reconsideration of this decision and urges educational authorities to prioritize the inclusion and continuity of African American Studies in the curriculum in order to ensure a comprehensive and inclusive educational experience for all students in Georgia.”

DCSD will offer AP African American Studies in four of its high schools during the 2024-25 school year. Officials say 151 students are currently enrolled in the courses.

DCSD High School Number of Students

Arabia Mountain HS 82

Dunwoody HS 26

Lakeside HS 43

Towers HS New Enrollment Pending

Current Totals 151

DCSD remains dedicated to a diverse and inclusive curriculum that honors African American history and contributions, the district stated.