First Coast Schools at Odds over AP Psychology After Guidance

This year, AP Psychology will not be offered in Duval or Clay County Schools. Due to Florida’s law prohibiting discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity in the classroom, the College Board this week advised Florida institutions against offering the course.

The Florida Department of Education responded by encouraging districts to teach AP Psychology as long as the subject is still available in our [FLDOE] course catalog and is age- and developmentally appropriate.

There are various risks associated with the overall condition. We didn’t want to put students in that risky situation because there is a risk that if we teach the AP course in accordance with state law, they won’t be able to take the exam. 

There is also a risk for teachers because if they teach the course in accordance with state law, they may face consequences as a result of a challenge from a parent or parent group or something similar. 

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Activists Advocate for Unaltered AP Psychology

Pearce stated that DCPS will provide substitute courses, including the AP seminar and Cambridge AICE programs, among others. 

The AICE program will also be offered by Clay County Schools, which did not provide a reason for its decision to forgo offering AP Psychology other than to state that district choices “will always be made in the best interest of our students.” According to St. Johns County, the course will be offered at its schools.

 A group of protesters gathered in front of the St. Johns County School Board to express their opposition to Florida’s African American Studies requirements and to ask the local school board about the AP Psychology requirements. 

We don’t know because they won’t disclose anything. That is why we are expressing our feelings to them in the hopes that they would choose wisely during the meeting today. 

To ensure that students are taught AP Psychology as it was intended, Wahlmann and the group of seven to eight activists are involved. 

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Source: www.firstcoastnews.com