Bill seeking vetted, uniform curriculum for ethnic studies

As discussion of Israel and Palestine remains ongoing and teachers attempt to discuss the political, historical and ethnic context surrounding the international conflict in ethnic studies, AB 1468 looks to limit these topics in an effort to avoid instances of antisemitism.

The fear Jewish students and families have felt as a result of reported antisemitism has only intensified since Oct. 7, 2023, a press release by the bill’s authors, including state Sen. Josh Becker, D-Menlo Park, described.

“Unfortunately, in California, the lack of clear standards for ethnic studies has resulted at times in lawsuits, divided communities, factually inaccurate materials, and harmful, antisemitic environments for Jewish students and families,” the press release read.

The bill would require the California Board of Education to adopt academic standards by January 2028 that would be informed by an advisory committee of academic experts in Black, Asian, Latino and Native American studies, as well as “representatives from communities most frequently targeted by hate crimes,” the press release said. According to the California Department of Justice’s annual Hate Crimes in California Report, anti-Jewish bias events rose from 2022-23 by 52.9%.

“The bill will give educators a clear, structured roadmap for implementation and protect students from inaccurate or biased information being taught in their classrooms,” the press release read. “This much-needed action for students, teachers, administrators and parents will safeguard the promise of ethnic studies and further mutual understanding and tolerance.”

However, opposition to the bill has risen from the Israeli-American Civic Action Network, which has described the bill as a “callous insult to every family hurt by the confusion created by ethnic studies laws and policies.”

In a public forum Feb. 25, hosted by ICAN, educational leaders, concerned parents and nonprofit representatives spoke to their desire for the implementation of ethnic studies to be paused, or thrown out altogether. Ethnic studies, in its entirety, was described by multiple speakers as a rigid pedagogy that perpetuates a binary of oppressor and oppressed, rather than a study of different ethnic groups.

One speaker, Peter Ohtaki, who was a former Menlo Park councilmember and has had children attend Menlo-Atherton High School, said ethnic studies courses “teach kids to hate their country.”

In 2021, California passed Assembly Bill 101, which established that districts must develop and offer an ethnic studies course by 2025-26 and include it as a graduation requirement by 2029-30. A model curriculum is provided to teachers, but only serves as an optional guideline.

Ethnic studies focuses on the “four foundation disciplines” of academic study — Black, Asian, Latino and Native American studies — to provide an “opportunity for students to learn of the histories, cultures, struggles, and contributions to American society of these historically marginalized peoples, which have often been untold in US history courses,” according to the model curriculum. The model curriculum includes discussing racism and bigotry, including anti-Blackness, xenophobia, antisemitism and Islamophobia.

The soon-to-be-mandated course has been proactively implemented in various districts throughout the state, including those within the county.

For the legislators backing AB 1468, which has 31 co-authors, the bill will address the raised concerns over biased teachings while still looking to fulfill ethnic studies’ promise to embrace, respect and value each student and culture.

Becker said a standardized curriculum is far past due.

“Education’s purpose is to foster and promote understanding, rather than perpetuate division and prejudice,” Becker said in the press release. “AB 1468 ensures that this course remains true to its original intent — promoting inclusivity, respect, and historical accuracy for all communities with a domestic focus.”