Open Letter on AP African American Studies

Last week, the South Carolina Post and Courier published pieces revealing that the Department of Education had quietly declined to provide SC school districts with a course code to allow them to offer AP African American Studies. Following the article, and subsequent pressure from teacher groups, parents, and students, the Department released a June 4 memo that sowed much more confusion than clarification.

To help clarify the teacher/ district perspective on the issue, I collaborated with teacher, magnet director, and SC for Ed board member Nicole Walker, on this open letter to decision-makers. Since Weaver and the Department have subsequently described this as a “manufactured controversy,” we hope this letter clarifies why many students, parents, teachers, and district officials are confused and disturbed by the Department’s actions.

To whom it may concern,

We are South Carolina AP teachers writing with deep concern about the recent actions of the South Carolina Department of Educatio…