The Palo Alto school board is reconsidering making Ethnic Studies a graduation requirement, responding to community requests despite state funding issues. Superintendent Don Austin previously recommended tabling the class, citing lack of budget allocation from Governor Newsom. While the state requires Ethnic Studies by the 2025-26 year, funding remains crucial. Neighboring districts have already mandated the class, which has sparked complaints about bias in curriculum from local Jewish families. Proponents, like parent Nicole Chiu-Wang, emphasize the benefits of Ethnic Studies for underrepresented students' academic success and social understanding.
The discussion will reflect that Ethnic Studies is not mandated by the state, indicating that while the class has significant community support, funding remains a barrier.
Advocates for Ethnic Studies argue that the class improves academic achievement for underrepresented groups and fosters a deeper understanding of cultural identities.
Collection
[
|
...
]