Karen Mulzac Watkins Vice Chair, District I | Gwinnett County Public Schools
Karen Mulzac Watkins Vice Chair, District I | Gwinnett County Public Schools
Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) recently announced the exclusion of the Advanced Placement (AP) African American Studies course from their curriculum this year. This decision follows the Georgia Department of Education's omission of the course from its list of state-approved courses, which affects students' grade point average (GPA) benefits and eligibility for scholarships such as HOPE and Zell Miller.
Despite receiving updated guidance from the state on funding, course number assignment, and embedding AP African American Studies topics in an existing course, GCPS expressed concerns. The school district stated that these measures do not ensure that GPAs are calculated similarly to other AP courses in Georgia.
The district emphasized its commitment to providing rigorous coursework to prepare students for postsecondary success. "Withholding state approval for this AP course sends the message that the contributions and experiences of African Americans are not worthy of academic study at the same level as other approved AP courses," they stated.
GCPS Superintendent Dr. Calvin J. Watts affirmed ongoing advocacy efforts with state education authorities for full approval of the course statewide. He thanked students, families, and staff for their understanding and support during this period.
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