Posted on Aug 6, 2023
AP psychology class may be available to Florida students after all
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https://www.npr.org/2023/08/05/ [login to see] /ap-psychology-florida-college-board
The first time the College Board bumped up against Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis's efforts to inject conservative ideals into education standards, it ultimately revamped the Advanced Placement course for African American studies, watering down curriculum on slavery reparations and the Black Lives Matter movement — and a nationwide backlash ensued.
Now, faced with altering its AP Psychology course to comply with Florida's limits on teaching about sexual orientation and gender identity, the nonprofit College Board is pushing back. It advised the state's school districts Thursday to not offer the college-level course to Florida's high school students unless it can be taught in full.
By late Friday, statements from both sides suggested students in Florida would be able to take the full course after all.
The first time the College Board bumped up against Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis's efforts to inject conservative ideals into education standards, it ultimately revamped the Advanced Placement course for African American studies, watering down curriculum on slavery reparations and the Black Lives Matter movement — and a nationwide backlash ensued.
Now, faced with altering its AP Psychology course to comply with Florida's limits on teaching about sexual orientation and gender identity, the nonprofit College Board is pushing back. It advised the state's school districts Thursday to not offer the college-level course to Florida's high school students unless it can be taught in full.
By late Friday, statements from both sides suggested students in Florida would be able to take the full course after all.
AP psychology class may be available to Florida students after all
Posted from npr.org
State of Florida
Education
Psychology
LGBTQ+
Transgender
Posted 9 mo ago
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."The College Board refused to modify the course
The College Board refused to modify the psychology course to comply with Florida's new legislation. The course asks students to describe how sex and gender influence a person's development — topics that have been part of the curriculum since it launched 30 years ago.
In standing firm against pressure from Florida officials, the College Board, which administers the SAT and AP exams, has acknowledged missteps in the way it handled the African American studies curriculum.
"We have learned from our mistakes in the recent rollout of AP African American Studies and know that we must be clear from the outset where we stand," the non-profit said in June.
Literacy and free-speech experts lauded the College Board's new approach.
"These concessions are not a strategy that's working," said Kasey Meehan, the Freedom to Read program director at PEN America, a nonprofit dedicated to the advancement of literature and human rights. "It's not like there's some common middle ground and then we've resolved it and moved on."
Meehan said that while other states may not have gone as far as Florida in asking for course revisions, legislation across the country is having a chilling effect on teachers at all grade levels. Even if concepts are not explicitly banned, many educators are left in the dark about what they may get in trouble for teaching in the classroom, she said.
"We have heard that it's hard to teach about everything from the Civil War to Harvey Milk, who is the first openly gay elected official in California," Meehan said. "There's just an increased culture of fear and intimidation that's playing out."
The American Psychological Association said Florida's new policy means students will receive an incomplete education.
"Requiring what is effectively censored educational material does an enormous disservice to students across Florida, who will receive an incomplete picture of the psychological research into human development," said Arthur Evans Jr., CEO of the association."
..."The College Board refused to modify the course
The College Board refused to modify the psychology course to comply with Florida's new legislation. The course asks students to describe how sex and gender influence a person's development — topics that have been part of the curriculum since it launched 30 years ago.
In standing firm against pressure from Florida officials, the College Board, which administers the SAT and AP exams, has acknowledged missteps in the way it handled the African American studies curriculum.
"We have learned from our mistakes in the recent rollout of AP African American Studies and know that we must be clear from the outset where we stand," the non-profit said in June.
Literacy and free-speech experts lauded the College Board's new approach.
"These concessions are not a strategy that's working," said Kasey Meehan, the Freedom to Read program director at PEN America, a nonprofit dedicated to the advancement of literature and human rights. "It's not like there's some common middle ground and then we've resolved it and moved on."
Meehan said that while other states may not have gone as far as Florida in asking for course revisions, legislation across the country is having a chilling effect on teachers at all grade levels. Even if concepts are not explicitly banned, many educators are left in the dark about what they may get in trouble for teaching in the classroom, she said.
"We have heard that it's hard to teach about everything from the Civil War to Harvey Milk, who is the first openly gay elected official in California," Meehan said. "There's just an increased culture of fear and intimidation that's playing out."
The American Psychological Association said Florida's new policy means students will receive an incomplete education.
"Requiring what is effectively censored educational material does an enormous disservice to students across Florida, who will receive an incomplete picture of the psychological research into human development," said Arthur Evans Jr., CEO of the association."
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