Multiple Florida school districts replaced Advanced Placement (AP) Psychology courses after state officials warned certain elements violate Florida law. Alternate courses replaced AP Psychology classes in eight districts, while two others are still in the decision-making process. State officials warned that the course’s discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity violates state law.
For more than 30 years, the course has been taught in Florida but now includes lessons on “how sex and gender influence socialization and other aspects of development,” according to a course description.
Learn the benefits of becoming a Valuetainment Member and subscribe today!
The state encouraged schools to teach the course but exclude material involving sexual orientation and gender identity. However, the College Board – which runs AP courses – claimed these topics “are central to the study of psychology and cannot be excised,” according to the Washington Post.
Course creators refused to adjust their course, stating it “will not modify our courses to accommodate restrictions on teaching essential, college-level topics. Doing so would break the fundamental promise of AP: colleges wouldn’t broadly accept that course for credit and that course wouldn’t prepare students for careers in the discipline.”
According to The College Board, the alleged ban “removes choice from parents and students. Coming just days from the start of school, it derails the college readiness and affordability plans of tens of thousands of Florida students currently registered for AP Psychology, one of the most popular AP classes in the state.”
The College Board then advised districts to not offer the course at all.
Multiple state school districts decided to follow this advice just days before the new school year begins. Brevard County Schools released a statement noting the difficulty of withholding the course requiring it to alter it since it would not be considered for AP certification.
The district stated, “In essence, if we don’t teach all of the content, our students will not receive AP credit. If we do teach all of the content, our instructors will violate the law. Therefore, we will not offer AP Psychology at any of our high schools this year.”
Add comment