The “Ethnic Studies” Trap
24th November 2021
California Governor Gavin Newsom recently signed into law Assembly Bill 101, making California the first state to require ethnic studies for all high school students. Though cloaked in soothing language about freedom from bias and bigotry, the bill’s history, purpose, and implementing regulations give cause for concern.
The law, which will go into effect on January 1, requires all public high schools and charter schools to offer a one semester course in ethnic studies by the 2025-2026 school year and establishes it as a prerequisite to graduation in 2030.
Prior to statewide adoption, the Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, and Oakland school boards voted to impose ethnic studies as a high school graduation requirement. Ethnic studies is also a graduation requisite at California community colleges, the California State University system, and some University of California campuses. In 2017, Oregon passed a law ordering that ethnic studies concepts be integrated into existing social studies courses for K-12 students. The California law differs by requiring a dedicated course.